
Wildlife officials in Indonesia recently confiscated a staggering five tons of frozen pangolin carcasses in what is believed to be the largest case of pangolin smuggling since 2008. The seizure took place last week at a warehouse near Begawan port in Sumatra and was carried out by the Indonesian National Police along with a team from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Also included in the grisly haul was 77 kilograms (169 lbs) of pangolin scales, 96 live pangolins and 24 bear paws. The smuggler, identified only by the initials SHB, has been taken into custody and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison or a fine of $10,000 USD.
Officials believe that the animals were poached on the island of Sumatra, but the illegal shipment was headed to China to be sold for meat and use in traditional medicine. The total value of the seized shipment is over 1,8 million USD.
"This is a major breakthrough, both in terms of the enormous size of the shipment and in terms of the increasing sophistication of collaborative methods used by Indonesian authorities in making the bust," WCS Executive Director for Asia Programs, Joe Walston told Mongabay.
The 96 live animals were taken to a protected forest on the outskirts of the city where they were released - a small victory for the wildlife officials involved in this monumental bust.

Although they are little-known to the general public, pangolins are amongst the most trafficked wild animals in the world. Their scales are sought after for use in traditional Chinese medicine, and their meat is considered a delicacy in East Asia. The animals seized in this bust are Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) - a species listed as critically endangered by the IUCN with populations being decimated as a result of this kind of rampant poaching. Of the four species of pangolins found in Asia, all are listed as either Endangered or Critically Endangered.
Photojournalist Paul Hilton documented the almost unbelievable bust as well as the release of the live pangolins and the destruction of the pangolin carcasses (Warning: some of these images are graphic):


A pangolin waits for its freedom after the massive wildlife bust. Image: Paul Hilton
1 1 Waiting for freedom
Poultry cages full of pangolins line the floor of the seafood warehouse where the bust took place. Image: Paul Hilton
2 2 Pangolin in poultry cages


A total of 77 kilograms (169 lbs) of pangolin scales were seized. Image: Paul Hilton
5 5 Scales and carcasses
Over five tons of frozen pangolin carcasses were confiscated in the bust. Image: Paul Hilton
6 6 Frozen pangolins
The wildlife seizure is believed to be the biggest pangolin smuggling bust since 2008. Image: Paul Hilton
7 7 Frozen carcasses
Deputy Director Special Crime, CID of the Indonesian National Police, Police Senior Commissioner Didid Widjanardi displays frozen pangolins. Image: Paul Hilton
8 8 Police Commissioner displays pangolins
A plaincloths police officer inspects the frozen pangolins during a press conference at the crime scene. Image: Paul Hilton
9 9 Police on the scene
Bags of pangolin scales ready for export on the black market. Image: Paul Hilton
10 10 Bags of scales

One of the 96 live pangolins ready to be released back into the wild. Image: Paul Hilton
12 12 Ready for release
The live pangolins were released in a protected forest on the outskirts of Medan. Image: Paul Hilton
13 13 One of the lucky few
A tiny baby pangolin offers a small glimmer of hope for the wildlife officials involved in this monumental bust. Image: Paul Hilton
14 14 A glimmer of hope
The confiscated pangolin carcasses were transported to a pit several kilometres from the warehouse where they were found. Image: Paul Hilton
15 15 Pangolin pit
3000 to 4000 slaughtered frozen pangolins lying in a pit before being burnt. Image: Paul Hilton
16 16 Destroying the seizure
Thousands of pangolins lay four or five deep in the pit. Image: Paul Hilton
17 17 Five tons of pangolins

A pangolin waits for its freedom after the massive wildlife bust. Image: Paul Hilton
1 Waiting for freedom
Poultry cages full of pangolins line the floor of the seafood warehouse where the bust took place. Image: Paul Hilton
2 Pangolin in poultry cages


A total of 77 kilograms (169 lbs) of pangolin scales were seized. Image: Paul Hilton
5 Scales and carcasses
Over five tons of frozen pangolin carcasses were confiscated in the bust. Image: Paul Hilton
6 Frozen pangolins
The wildlife seizure is believed to be the biggest pangolin smuggling bust since 2008. Image: Paul Hilton
7 Frozen carcasses
Deputy Director Special Crime, CID of the Indonesian National Police, Police Senior Commissioner Didid Widjanardi displays frozen pangolins. Image: Paul Hilton
8 Police Commissioner displays pangolins
A plaincloths police officer inspects the frozen pangolins during a press conference at the crime scene. Image: Paul Hilton
9 Police on the scene


One of the 96 live pangolins ready to be released back into the wild. Image: Paul Hilton
12 Ready for release
The live pangolins were released in a protected forest on the outskirts of Medan. Image: Paul Hilton
13 One of the lucky few
A tiny baby pangolin offers a small glimmer of hope for the wildlife officials involved in this monumental bust. Image: Paul Hilton
14 A glimmer of hope
The confiscated pangolin carcasses were transported to a pit several kilometres from the warehouse where they were found. Image: Paul Hilton
15 Pangolin pit
3000 to 4000 slaughtered frozen pangolins lying in a pit before being burnt. Image: Paul Hilton
16 Destroying the seizure
Thousands of pangolins lay four or five deep in the pit. Image: Paul Hilton
17 Five tons of pangolins