In the heart of Africa, near the banks of the Niger River, lies a vast and unique market. Here, the stalls brim with wild game: pangolins, crocodiles, giant lizards, and even fallow deer, zebras, and monkeys — animals whose trade and consumption are banned in many countries.
On one occasion, to entertain visiting officials from China, we drove over a hundred kilometers to this market to procure some wild game. The crocodile pens were too intimidating for most, so we left the task to our seasoned driver, Daniel, while the rest of us went to select pangolins. These creatures, when captured, instinctively curl up tightly into a ball out of fear or self-defense.
A challenging pangolin purchase
The purchasing process typically involved the buyer selecting a pangolin, after which the vendor would forcibly uncoil the animal, eviscerate it, discard its organs, and clean the body before placing it over an iron clamp to roast, causing the scales to fall off.
The market was well-stocked that day, with many pangolins of varying sizes in their enclosures. The officials picked a few large ones, insisting on witnessing the slaughter firsthand. A young African vendor picked up the plumpest one and skillfully tried to uncoil it, but it remained tightly curled despite his efforts.
Unseen determination
Puzzled and embarrassed, the vendor repeatedly slams the pangolin onto the ground, explaining that the pain would force it to uncoil. To our shock, even after several hard slams, the pangolin’s eyes remained shut tight, a trickle of blood at its mouth, but it still did not uncoil. Instead, it tightened its grip even further.
Unable to bear the sight, we signaled for him to stop. The vendor, frustrated, used an iron clamp to place the pangolin over the fire. The pangolin remained as the scales burned off, and the smell of charred flesh filled the air. Defeated, the vendor shook his head, declaring the animal unfit for consumption, and tossed it onto the sandy ground.
A mother’s final sacrifice
As we continued our transactions, we noticed the discarded pangolin slowly stretching out its body, its eyes barely opening, followed by a few convulsions before it lay utterly still. As it uncurled, we were stunned to see a tiny, translucent baby pangolin, no larger than a mouse, clinging to its mother’s belly, connected by a thin umbilical cord. The baby’s mouth closed silently as if calling for its mother. The sight was overwhelming, leaving us stunned, my emotions surging to tears.
That mother pangolin, weighing no more than 10 pounds, endured brutal beatings and scorching heat to protect her baby until her last breath. Her unwavering resolve surpassed the limits of life itself.
Treat animals with kindness
Animals are our friends; we must treat them with kindness. To protect our animal companions, consider adopting a vegetarian lifestyle. If a sudden switch seems challenging, gradual changes can still significantly impact the situation. Your compassionate choices can help restore our planet’s beauty, balance, and harmony.
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