A man has been arrested in Kabarnet, Baringo county as he attempted to sell a pangolin, considered to be the world’s most endangered mammal.
Posing as potential buyers of, detectives lured the suspect, Nicodemus Lagat, before arresting him and rescuing the mammal.
A pangolin is believed to be the world’s most trafficked non-human mammal and in Kenya, the animal can fetch an average of up to Sh60,000.
Kenya wildlife service warden Grace Wendot said the suspect is believed to have poached the pangolin from Barwesa ward in Baringo North before being arrested and booked to Kabarnet police station where he is set to be arraigned in court.
Pangolins are world-scaly mammals with scales making up 20 percent of their body weight. They are threatened by poachers due to the high demand for scales and meat, especially in China where it’s used for traditional medicine.
All pangolin species are afforded the highest protection status under the Convention of International Trade in the Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna, (CITES) due to the exploration of its illegal trade.
