VANCOUVER—As researchers work to understand the global coronavirus outbreak, a new figure has been drawn into the conversation: the pangolin. Pangolin scales are actually made of keratin, the same material that’s in human fingernails, and there is no evidence of any therapeutic or medical applications. Perhaps because of the world-wide scarcity of the animals, pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of southern China and Vietnam. How commonly is pangolin found in traditional Chinese medicine in Canada? If pangolin scales are making their way into Canada, they’re being smuggled in — likely from underground breeders in countries such as Vietnam and Laos, Chen said.

Source: thestar February 08, 2020 01:52 UTC