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Tinsman JC, Gruppi C, Bossu CM, Prigge TL, Harrigan RJ, Zaunbrecher V, Koepfli KP, LeBreton M, Njabo K, Wenda C, Xing S, Abernethy K, Ades G, Akeredolu E, Andrew IB, Barrett TA, Bernáthová I, Černá Bolfíková B, Diffo JL, Difouo Fopa G, Ebong LE, Godwill I, Koumba Pambo AF, Labuschagne K, Nwobegahay Mbekem J, Momboua BR, Mousset Moumbolou CL, Ntie S, Rose-Jeffreys E, Simo FT, Sundar K, Swiacká M, Takuo JM, Talla VNK, Tamoufe U, Dingle C, Ruegg K, Bonebrake TC, Smith TB. Genomic analyses reveal poaching hotspots and illegal trade in pangolins from Africa to Asia. Science 2023; 382:1282-1286. [PMID: 38096373 DOI: 10.1126/science.adi5066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) is the world's most trafficked mammal and is at risk of extinction. Reducing the illegal wildlife trade requires an understanding of its origins. Using a genomic approach for tracing confiscations and analyzing 111 samples collected from known geographic localities in Africa and 643 seized scales from Asia between 2012 and 2018, we found that poaching pressures shifted over time from West to Central Africa. Recently, Cameroon's southern border has emerged as a site of intense poaching. Using data from seizures representing nearly 1 million African pangolins, we identified Nigeria as one important hub for trafficking, where scales are amassed and transshipped to markets in Asia. This origin-to-destination approach offers new opportunities to disrupt the illegal wildlife trade and to guide anti-trafficking measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen C Tinsman
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ashland, OR, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, London, UK
| | - Cristian Gruppi
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christen M Bossu
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Tracey-Leigh Prigge
- Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, London, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ryan J Harrigan
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Virginia Zaunbrecher
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Matthew LeBreton
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Mosaic, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Kevin Njabo
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cheng Wenda
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuang Xing
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Katharine Abernethy
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique, Libreville, Gabon
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Gary Ades
- Fauna Conservation Department, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Imuzei B Andrew
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Taneisha A Barrett
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Iva Bernáthová
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Černá Bolfíková
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Ghislain Difouo Fopa
- Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, London, UK
- Department of Biology and Animal Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Lionel Esong Ebong
- Department of Ecology and Nature Management, School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Ichu Godwill
- Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, London, UK
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | | | - Kim Labuschagne
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Brice R Momboua
- Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Libreville, Gabon
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Carla L Mousset Moumbolou
- Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, London, UK
- Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Libreville, Gabon
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon
- Pangolin Conservation Network, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Stephan Ntie
- Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Libreville, Gabon
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon
| | | | - Franklin T Simo
- Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, London, UK
- Department of Biology and Animal Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Keerthana Sundar
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Markéta Swiacká
- Department of Spatial Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jean Michel Takuo
- International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Metabiota Cameroon Ltd, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Valery N K Talla
- Département de Biologie des Organismes, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Applied Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | | | - Caroline Dingle
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kristen Ruegg
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Timothy C Bonebrake
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, London, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Thomas B Smith
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Gu TT, Wu H, Yang F, Gaubert P, Heighton SP, Fu Y, Liu K, Luo SJ, Zhang HR, Hu JY, Yu L. Genomic analysis reveals a cryptic pangolin species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304096120. [PMID: 37748052 PMCID: PMC10556634 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304096120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Eight extant species of pangolins are currently recognized. Recent studies found that two mitochondrial haplotypes identified in confiscations in Hong Kong could not be assigned to any known pangolin species, implying the existence of a species. Here, we report that two additional mitochondrial haplotypes identified in independent confiscations from Yunnan align with the putative species haplotypes supporting the existence of this mysterious species/population. To verify the new species scenario we performed a comprehensive analysis of scale characteristics and 138 whole genomes representing all recognized pangolin species and the cryptic new species, 98 of which were generated here. Our morphometric results clearly attributed this cryptic species to Asian pangolins (Manis sp.) and the genomic data provide robust and compelling evidence that it is a pangolin species distinct from those recognized previously, which separated from the Philippine pangolin and Malayan pangolin over 5 Mya. Our study provides a solid genomic basis for its formal recognition as the ninth pangolin species or the fifth Asian one, supporting a new taxonomic classification of pangolins. The effects of glacial climate changes and recent anthropogenic activities driven by illegal trade are inferred to have caused its population decline with the genomic signatures showing low genetic diversity, a high level of inbreeding, and high genetic load. Our finding greatly expands current knowledge of pangolin diversity and evolution and has vital implications for conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of this enigmatic and endangered species from the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Tong Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
| | - Hong Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Tai Po, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region999077, China
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier, 31062Toulouse Cedex 9, France
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto4450-208, Portugal
| | - Sean P. Heighton
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier, 31062Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Yeyizhou Fu
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Ke Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Shu-Jin Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Hua-Rong Zhang
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Tai Po, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region999077, China
| | - Jing-Yang Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
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