Pangolin protection takes pride of place

Nature reserve in Huidong county, Guangdong province, spearheads efforts to safeguard secretive species

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

The odds have long been stacked against the Chinese pangolin, the secretive scaled mammal native to the northern Indian subcontinent, northern Southeast Asia and southern China, due to it being prized by some for its meat and medicinal properties.

Thought to be one of the most trafficked animals on the planet, the Chinese pangolin has become a symbol of reinvigorated protection efforts in one county in South China's Guangdong province, spurring a campaign to prevent hunting and raise awareness of the ecological importance of the species.