BOOK REVIEW (ARC) ~ Big Kibble

Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Commercial Pet Food Industry and How to Do Better by Our Dogs

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Synopsis:
A big, inside look at the shocking lack of regulation within the pet food industry, and how readers can dramatically improve the quality of their dogs’ lives through diet.

What’s really going into commercial dog food? The answer is horrifying.

Big Kibble is big business: $75 billion globally. A handful of multi-national corporations dominate the industry and together own as many as 80% of all brands. This comes as a surprise to most people, but what’s even more shocking is how lax the regulations and guidelines are around these products. The guidelines―or lack thereof―for pet food allow producers to include ever-cheaper ingredients, and create ever-larger earnings. For example, “legal” ingredients in kibble include poultry feces, saw dust, expired food, and diseased meat, among other horrors. Many vets still don’t know that kibble is not the best food for dogs because Big Kibble funds the nutrition research. So far, these corporations have been able to cut corners and still market and promote feed-grade food as if it were healthful and beneficial―until now.

Just as you are what you eat, so is your dog. Once you stop feeding your dog the junk that’s in kibble or cans, you have taken the first steps to improving your dog’s health, behavior and happiness.

You know the unsavory side of Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. Now Shawn Buckley, Dr. Oscar Chavez, and Wendy Paris explain all you need to know about unsavory Big Kibble―and offer a brighter path forward for you and your pet.

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My thoughts:  This is a very informative book on dog FEED (note the difference) that will give you a quick education on the history of kibble and what is allowed to go into it. I’d done some reading before about dog foods/feeds while researching a good kind to feed to my own dogs, and had been shocked at some of the things that are really allowed to go into them. So I was interested to read this book to see if that was confirmed here. I also wanted to check out the recipes for making your own dog food from fresh, which seems to be the best way to go, or buying it premade from a vendor. Either that, or doing the raw food. It just depends on how much time you have, of course and how far you want to dive into it.

The book is a good read for any dog owner who wants more information on kibble and dog nutrition, and you can always ask your vet’s opinion about what you read as well, if you have any questions. The authors are up front about the fact that they recently launched a fresh food delivery service, and they want to share some of what they learned about dog nutrition, and recipes with dog owners. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the authors Shawn Buckley & Dr. Oscar Chavez, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for my unbiased review.

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Publisher:  St Martin’s Press – 310 pages
Publication:  Nov 10th, 2020
My rating:  5/5 Stars

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The Authors– Entrepreneur and founder SHAWN BUCKLEY and veterinarian and professor in clinical pet nutrition DR. OSCAR CHAVEZ are the owners of Just Food for Dogs, a pioneer and disrupter in the dog food industry, and the leading brand of dog food made with USDA approved whole foods, fit for human consumption.

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BOOK REVIEW (ARC) ~ The Mourning Report

The Mourning Report

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Synopsis:
Two years after her mother’s death from breast cancer, Caitlin, then 20 years old, was admitted to a psychiatric facility after a suicide attempt. There, a therapist diagnosed her with major depression and anxiety, and she spent time as an inpatient.

Years later, still suffering from grief and depression, Caitlin decided to embark on a “grief journey,” interviewing the people involved in her mother’s dying process: a hospice nurse, a priest, an estate planner, a hairstylist, and a funeral director. If she figured out how they could function after being so close to her mother’s death, then maybe she could learn how to navigate her own life.

Each chapter of The Mourning Report is centered on each interview and the memories, anxieties, and reflections that it stimulated. It asks what it means to “move on.”

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My thoughts: This book jumps around in time in its telling of the story. Not necessarily a bad thing, just the choice of the writer, Caitlin Garvey, who shares her extremely painful journey watching her mother pass away from cancer. It details her rough time putting her life back together and moving on after the loss; which some may relate to if they’ve lost someone that close to them. For a young woman like her, there could be no one closer, just as it is for most.

I found the book easy to become involved in and feel a part of. I read it in one go, other than being interrupted by a puppy’s mischief a time or three. I needed the breaks, as I’m the emotional type that tends to go through a lot of tissues reading books like this. I found it really moving and heartfelt. I would suggest it for anyone interested in grief, or memoirs. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author Caitlin Garvey, and publisher Homebound Publications for my unbiased review.

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Publisher:  Homebound Publications – 168 pages
Publication:  Oct 6th, 2020
My rating:   4/5 Stars

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The Author– Caitlin Garvey is a Chicago-based writer and English professor. She has an MFA from Northwestern University and an MA in English Literature from DePaul University. Her nonfiction has been nominated for multiple awards, including The Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net, and has appeared in The Baltimore Review, Post Road Magazine, The Tishman Review, Little Fiction: Big Truths, Matter Press, Ragazine, JuxtaProse, among others.

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BOOK REVIEW (ARC) ~ A Brotherhood Betrayed

A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind The Rise And Fall Of Murder, Inc

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Synopsis:
The riveting true story of the rise and fall of Murder, Inc. and the executioner-turned-informant whose mysterious death became a turning point in Mob history.

In the fall of 1941, a momentous trial was underway that threatened to end the careers and lives of New York’s most brutal mob kingpins. The lead witness, Abe Reles, had been a trusted executioner for Murder, Inc., the enforcement arm of a coast-to-coast mob network known as the Commission. But the man responsible for coolly silencing hundreds of informants was about to become the most talkative snitch of all. In exchange for police protection, Reles was prepared to rat out his murderous friends, from Albert Anastasia to Bugsy Siegel—but before he could testify, his shattered body was discovered on a rooftop outside his heavily-guarded hotel room. Was it a botched escape, or punishment for betraying the loyalty of the country’s most powerful mobsters?

Michael Cannell’s A Brotherhood Betrayed traces the history of Murder, Inc. through Reles’ rise from street punk to murder chieftain to stool pigeon, ending with his fateful death on a Coney Island rooftop. It resurrects a time when crime became organized crime: a world of money and power, depravity and corruption, street corner ambushes and elaborately choreographed hits by wise-cracking foot soldiers with names like Buggsy Goldstein and Tick Tock Tannenbaum.

For a brief moment before World War II erupted, America fixated on the delicate balance of trust and betrayal on the Brooklyn streets. This is the story of the one man who tipped the balance.

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My thoughts:
This is a well-written mob story about Murder, Inc. that I enjoyed recently. It tells the tale of the group that was formed to handle the punishments or hits for the mob after the families became equal under the Commission. This was brought about by Lucky Luciano when he killed the last of the Mustache Petes, who insisted on doing things the old way, with one boss having to be in charge over everyone. This cleared the way for Jews to now be part of it too, among other changes.

The families could just get in touch with Murder, Inc. when they had a problem with one of their members getting out of line or bringing too much heat. They could also be called if a member was suspected of talking to the authorities. They were chosen because they were already known as ruthless killers who had become pretty efficient at it. That only increased after it became their major interest. This book would be of interest to most who like true crime/ mob books, especially those from past generations, like in J. Edgar Hoover’s time. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author, Michael Cannell, and publisher in return for my honest review.

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Publisher: Minotaur Books – 336 pages
Publication: Oct 6th, 2020
My rating: 4/5 Stars

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The Author– Michael Cannell is the author of three non-fiction books, most recently Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling (St. Martin’s Press). The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit (The Twelve) was published in 2012. The Sundance Channel/AMC has optioned The Limit to be made into a television series. I.M. Pei: Mandarin of Modernism (Crown) was published in 1995. Michael was editor of the New York Times House & Home section for seven years. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Sports Illustrated and many other publications. He lives in New York City.

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BOOK REVIEW ~ Gentle on my Mind

Gentle on my Mind: In Sickness and in Health with Glen Campbell

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Synopsis:
The page-turning, never-before-told story of Kim Campbell’s roller-coaster thirty-four-year marriage to music legend Glen Campbell, including how Kim helped Glen finally conquer his addictions only to face their greatest challenge when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Kim Campbell was a fresh-faced twenty-two-year-old dancer at Radio City Music Hall when a friend introduced her to Glen Campbell, the chart-topping, Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated entertainer. The two performers from small Southern towns quickly fell in love, a bond that produced a thirty-four-year marriage and three children.

In Gentle on My Mind, Kim tells the complete, no-holds-barred story of their relationship, recounting the highest of highs—award shows, acclaimed performances, the birth of their children, encounters with Mick Fleetwood, Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Alice Cooper, Jane Seymour, and others—and the lowest of lows, including battles with alcohol and drug addiction and, finally, Glen’s diagnosis, decline, and death from Alzheimer’s.

With extraordinary candor, astonishing bravery, and a lively sense of humor, Kim reveals the whole truth of life with an entertainment giant and of caring for and loving him amid the extraordinary challenge of Alzheimer’s disease. This is a remarkable account of enduring love, quiet strength, and never-faltering faith.

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My thoughts:  This was a wonderful though ultimately sad read. I’d seen the documentary a few years back that I found so profound, and this was the perfect follow-up to it. So very moving, it shares a lot more about Glen’s background I didn’t know. Their love story is also rather amazing by itself, with some major challenges, but Kim was in it for life. I do think this really shined a light on Alzheimer’s and got people thinking and talking about it. Not to be missed by real Glen Campbell fans, or those with an interest in Alzheimer’s. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author Kim Campbell, and publisher Thomas Nelson for my unbiased review.

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Publisher: Thomas Nelson – 304 pages
Publication: June 23rd, 2020
My rating: 5/5 Stars

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The Author- Kim Campbell was married to legendary country/pop star Glen Campbell for thirty-four years until his passing in August of 2017, following a long and very public battle with Alzheimer’s. The award-winning documentary, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, shared their family’s journey with the world and opened up a national conversation about the disease. Kim’s work as an advocate for people with dementia and for their families has taken her to Capitol Hill and the United Nations, and she is the creator of a website called CareLiving.org that encourages, informs, and inspires caregivers to take care of themselves while caring for others. She also established the Kim and Glen Campbell Foundation to advance the use of music as medicine to unlock forgotten memories, restore and rebuild neural pathways, alleviate depression, manage behaviors and boost cognition. Kim is an honorary faculty member of the Erickson school of Aging Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, holds a BFA from East Carolina University, and studied interior design at UCLA. To book Kim for speaking engagements, go to apbspeakers.com.

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BOOK REVIEW (ARC) ~ Dopeworld

Dopeworld: Adventures in the Global Drug Trade

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Synopsis:
In this irreverent ode to gonzo journalism, one writer travels the globe to explore the use of recreational drugs in cultures around the world.

After I got out of jail, I was determined to find out more about how the issue of drugs not only landed me there, but has shaped the entire world: wars, scandals, coups, revolutions. I read every book, watched every documentary. I saved up to buy plane tickets. I went to Colombia, Mexico, Russia, Italy, Japan and the Afghan border—all in all, fifteen countries across five continents.

Call me Narco Polo.

Just as Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations did for the world of food, Dopeworld is an intoxicating journey into the world of drugs. From the cocaine farms in South America to the streets of Manila, Dopeworld traces the emergence of psychoactive substances and our intimate relationship with them. As a former drug dealer turned subversive scholar, with unparalleled access to drug lords, cartel leaders, street dealers and government officials, journalist Niko Vorobyov attempts to shine a light on the dark underbelly of the drug world.

At once a bold piece of journalism and a hugely entertaining travelogue, Dopeworld is a brilliant and enlightening journey across the world, revealing how drug use is at the heart of our history, our lives, and our future.

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My thoughts: This was certainly a unique way of looking at the history and place/power of drugs throughout the world. I found it very enlightening, learning a huge amount about the history of drug use I never knew or would have thought would all be real.

Author/journalist Niko Vorobyov delivers his work in a way that kept me returning for more of the edge of witty humor running through it.  I couldn’t stop until I reached the end, and was left thinking about it afterward.  Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author, and publisher in return for my honest review.

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Publisher: St Martin’s Press – 432 pages
Publication: August 18th, 2020
My rating: 4/5 Stars

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The Author– Niko Vorobyov was born in Leningrad, Russia, before moving to Great Britain. From 2013-2014 he served a two-and-a-half year sentence for Possession with Intent to Supply. Upon his release, he graduated from University College London and began working at a Russian news outlet, Russia Today, before putting together his media, academic, and under-the-counter expertise to write a book.

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BOOK REVIEW (ARC) ~ Broken Shield

Broken Shield: An FBI Undercover Agent’s Personal Perspective

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Synopsis:
“Rays story as an Undercover Agent is legendary.” —Joaquin “Jack” Garcia, NYT Bestselling Auhtor of Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family

Broken Shield is the remarkable narrative of a young, inexperienced agent who became the primary undercover agent of one of the FBI’s largest police corruption investigations.

Ray Morrow’s fascination with justice and the FBI started as a young boy and was the catalyst for being a major part of the historic undercover operation, SHIRON. The physical and emotional toll that it took upon him and his new family brings to light the devastation that comes with the corruption living inside our justice system.

After years as the primary undercover agent in the Cleveland Police Department, a city previously unfamiliar to him, he was called to lead his biggest operation yet; the undercover investigation was the most important look into police corruption in Cleveland’s history. While gathering evidence that police officers have been accepting payments from illegal casinos and drug shipments, Morrow battles his own doubts and little experience. He also finds himself surrounded by threats not only armed with weapons but with the power and technology of modern policing.

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My thoughts: This is an enjoyable, well-written story of author Ray Morrow’s life long wish to be an FBI agent from the time he was a kid, and how he strives for years to make that happen. You get to go along with Ray as he applies for different positions in the FBI and even works undercover in Chicago. You get to read all about it as he sets up the bad guys. If you like this kind of genre, you will probably like this book. I did for sure, I wanted to stay up all night to finish it. Ray seems like a super nice guy, someone you’d like to meet and have as a friend. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Ray Morrow, and the publisher.

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Publisher: BooksGoSocial – 204 pages
Publication: July 15th, 2020
My rating: 4/5 Stars

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BOOK REVIEW ~ Tiger Wars

Tiger Wars: The shocking story of Joe Exotic, the Tiger King vs Carole Baskin

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Synopsis:
The global smash-hit Netflix documentary mini-series Tiger King introduced viewers to the weird, crazy and chaotic life of private zoo owner and big cat breeder Joe Exotic, and his war against Carole Baskin. Baskin, who runs the Big Cat Rescue in Florida, a sanctuary for abused and abandoned wild cats, waged a long legal battle to have Joe’s exotic animal park in Oklahoma shut down for the maltreatment of his animals. But Carole had her own dark past and Joe wasn’t going down without a fight; he responded by plotting to have her murdered. Tiger Wars delves deeper into this stranger-than-fiction tale and tells the shocking story of this big cat war, the cult-like characters involved and the spiral of obsession that landed Joe Exotic in jail and exposed the dark heart of America’s big cat obsession.

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My thoughts: Having missed the documentary Tiger King, I decided to read this book on the situation. I did see the documentary with Rick Kirkham, former Inside Edition journalist and crack cocaine addict, titled “The Truth Behind Joe Exotic: The Rick Kirkham Story”, which was a trip in itself. Rick split with Joe as his Producer after he angered Joe apparently. The production building with all of the equipment mysteriously burned down a couple of nights later after Joe changed the locks and had the only key. Kirkham had been going to produce a reality series on Joe, despite his growing reservations. The more he got to know Joe and the more he began to see how he operated, the less he wanted to do with him. The fire ended any reality show hopes, as the equipment of both men was destroyed in the fire.

This book finally turned the spotlight on Joe Schreibvogel for me, aka Joe Exotic, among many other aliases he used. It shared about his earlier years, his parents, his late brother, and how he got started with his zoo where it was in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. It also explains Carole Baskin and her place, the Big Cat Rescue in Florida, and how she and Joe came to have such a huge dislike for each other, and the way each  runs their big cat places. Joe has a pretty awful reputation and deservedly so, and Carole is horrified by some of the cruel things she has heard about that have happened at his place that he’s done. The battle of words online becomes personal and threats are made and it really becomes ugly. Then the lawsuits start. But Joe has other problems…lots of them. And they threaten to blow his world apart at any moment, that’s just how he lives. This is a crazy book that makes for interesting reading, for sure about the bizarre world of exotic animals in the United States. I found it fascinating and flew through it in an evening. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author Al Cimino, and publisher in return for my honest review.

** Just a note, you may also want to check out the show on Joe Exotic and Rick Kirkham if you can find it on Investigation Discovery, or elsewhere, it was fascinating as well, it’s titled “The Truth Behind Joe Exotic: The Rick Kirkham Story,”. It was after Rick had lived at the zoo with Joe for about a year. Plus there’s one he did of his own life of making video diaries. It’s called ”TV Junkie”.  I found the title info on IMDB.

 

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Publisher: White Hart Books – 288 pages
Publication: June 18th, 2020
My rating: 4/5 Stars

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The Author– Al Cimino is a journalist and author who specializes in history and crime. His books include Great Record Labels, Spree Killers, War in the Pacific, Omaha Beach, Battle of Guadalcanal, and Battle of Midway.

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BOOK REVIEW (ARC) ~ Doctor Dealer

Doctor Dealer: A doctor high on greed, a biker gang high on opioids, and the woman who paid the ultimate price

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Synopsis:
Dr. James Kauffman and his wife, April, were the perfect couple: a respected endocrinologist and a beautiful radio host. But under the surface lurked a world of drugs, sex, and biker gangs. A world Dr. Kauffman would kill to keep secret.

In May 2012, April Kauffman, a well-known local radio personality and staunch advocate of military veterans rights, was found shot to death in the bedroom of the home she shared with her husband, Dr. James Kauffman.

Six years later, in the fall of 2018, Freddy Augello, a leader of the notorious motorcycle gang the Pagans, went on trial for drug dealing and murder. He was charged with arranging the death of April Kauffman in exchange for $50,000 from her husband, who, in addition to practicing medicine, was one of the area’s most prolific drug traffickers.

Told by two accomplished reporters and authors with exclusive insights and details provided by two principal players, this is the story about one man’s descent into evil and the people he took with him. It’s a story about a doctor who helped flood the streets with opioids, about a husband who hid dark secrets from his wives, and about a man so consumed with greed and arrogance that he thought he could get away with murder.

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My thoughts: This story seemed vaguely familiar as I read it, it felt as if I’ve read it before by another author or perhaps seen it on a true crime show. It’s quite a shocking story to read, for sure. I read it straight through, which I have not been able to do much of lately, so that says a lot. It really held my interest, I stayed up all night reading it. I guess I just had to see how it came out. If you like true crime, with bikers and a drug dealing doctor who wants to knock off his wife when she becomes a problem for him, check this one out. I’ve read several of Anastasia’s books now, and like them more aIl the time. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors George Anastasia & Ralph Cipriano, and the publisher.

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Publisher: Berkley – 304 pages
Publication: Sep 8th, 2020
My rating: 4/5 Stars

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The Authors– George Anastasia was the mob writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer for years and is the author of six books on true crime. He is the recipient of numerous journalism awards and has worked on and been featured in a number of television documentaries, the most recent being a four-part series for the History Channel titled Kingpin that profiled the lives of John Gotti, James “Whitey” Bulger, Pablo Escobar, and Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman.

Ralph Cipriano is an award-winning veteran muckraking reporter who has exposed corruption in city and county governments, the Philadelphia D.A.’s office, local police departments, Ivy League football programs, and the Catholic Church. He’s the author of three books: Courtroom Cowboy, The Hit Man, and Target. His book on former mob hit man turned government witness John Veasey was the basis for a 60 Minutes profile of Veasey in 2013.

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BOOK REVIEW ~ Killers Keep Secrets

Killers Keep Secrets: The Golden State Killer’s Other Life

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Synopsis:
In April 2018, the long-unsolved Golden State Killer case burst wide open with the shocking arrest of 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer. But no one was more stunned than the people closest to him: his family.

In this spellbinding firsthand account, Jim Huddle, DeAngelo’s brother-in-law, shares the true story of the man charged with brutal, brazen rapes and murders.

From 1974 to 1986, the Golden State Killer (also known as the East Area Rapist, Visalia Ransacker, and Original Night Stalker) terrorized Californians with as many as 50 rapes, 13 murders, and countless other crimes from stalking to burglary. The perpetrator slipped through law enforcement’s fingers again and again, leaving cases cold, victims without justice, and the public in fear.

All the while, the Golden State Killer was hiding in plain sight. DeAngelo wove a web of deception, hiding his secret life for decades and fooling even those closest to him into thinking he was a normal person. But in this reflective tale, Jim shares the strange behavior that stands out, giving clues to DeAngelo’s dark secrets.

To Jim, DeAngelo was his sister’s husband, a man he trusted with his children, a man he thought he knew for 48 years. Walk through Jim’s memories of DeAngelo, from their shared hobbies to red flags in DeAngelo’s behavior that stand out sharply in hindsight. Jim also dispels myths about serial killers, and shares the similarities between DeAngelo and other infamous serial murderers. Find out what it was like to be charmed by a serial killer who escaped justice for over thirty years.

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My thoughts: This book is about the now-becoming-familiar Golden State Killer, but from another angle. It’s written by his ex-wife’s brother, who spent a lot of time with him over the years, decades and considered him family. It comes from his point of view, and is interesting in that respect. Unfortunately, once it goes over the family stuff and his personal memories of DeAngelo, etc. it runs out of gas and falls back on filler to make even a book on the shortish side. He goes over the murder cases, then really stretches things by talking about serial killers in the US, at one point listing non-white male serial killers. And a female one. I’m still glad to have read it, but it’s a bit thinner than I’d have liked on material. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author James Huddle, and the publisher.

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Publisher: IBPA, Members Titles -198 pages
Publication: June 30th, 2020
My rating: 3/5 Stars

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The Author– Jim Huddle is a proud father of two daughters and six grandchildren. He is a California native who now lives in Nevada. As a photographer, he travels the western states following the warm weather and seeking his next best photograph. In the 70s, Jim served as a reservist in the Naval Air reserves. He travels throughout the year and enjoys boating, flying general aviation aircraft, and poker.

With the revelation of the Golden State Killer’s identity, Jim felt the story of his relationship with Joseph James DeAngelo could help others spot behavioral warning signs of potential serial criminals. He looks forward to continuing his travels.

For more details, visit https://booklaunchers.com/jimhuddle

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AceNewsDesk Reblog

via (BEIJING, China.) JUST IN: Activists in China have released a pangolin into the wild to celebrate new protections for the armadillo-like animal whose numbers in the country have dropped to near extinction levels after authorities arrested 18-smugglers and confiscated 23.1-tons of scales surged from 50,000 creatures according to state media #AceNewsDesk reports

#AceNewsReport – June.12: Volunteers had rescued and rehabilitated the pangolin nicknamed Lijin after it was found by a fisherman in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. “This is a good start … but this is not good enough,” said Zhou Jinfeng, secretary-general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Fund, the group behind the lone pangolin’s release on Thursday: Just last year in Zhejiang, authorities arrested 18 smugglers and confiscated 23.1 tons of pangolin scales sourced from an estimated 50,000 creatures, according to Chinese state media:

After volunteers unlocked a transport crate, the foot-long pangolin crawled onto the lush forest floor outside Zhejiang’s Jinhua city: It’s brown scales and pink paws quickly disappeared in the emerald underbrush. “We will release a lot more soon,” said Zhou, who has vowed to free all pangolins in captivity in China. The U.S.-based group Save Pangolins said China’s granting of top-level protected status earlier this month was “a massive win for pangolins” after years of weak enforcement of existing restrictions.

Pangolin scales are an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and its meat is considered a delicacy by some: Environmental groups say that poachers had regularly circumvented the original regulations to sell illegally hunted pangolin scales and meat, often sourced from Africa and Southeast Asia. That has made pangolins “one of the most illegally traded mammals on the planet” with an estimated 1 million sold in the past 15 years, according to the Environmental Investigations Agency. Seizures have been recorded from Belgium to Singapore to Australia and the Philippines:

China’s increased protection forbids the raising of pangolins in captivity and the use of their scales in the nation’s mammoth traditional medicine industry: Zhou said that efforts to halt the sale of pangolins in China were buoyed by a raise in global awareness of the wildlife animal trade linked to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

The June 5 order from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration did not explicitly mention the outbreak as a reason for the measure, but the timing appears to indicate it could be part of China’s nationwide crackdown on the wildlife trade following the pandemic: Scientists say the coronavirus was most likely transmitted from bats to humans via an intermediary animal such as the pangolin. Trade in wildlife including bats and pangolins has been linked to so-called zoonotic diseases that leap from animals to humans, and China quickly cracked down on the industry in a series of measures long-promoted by environmental groups………..Zhou said China’s native pangolins have been all but wiped out.

Over the past five years, Zhou and volunteers found only five where hundreds of thousands lived just three decades ago: Zhou said the new protections give groups like his the right to sue businesses and individuals selling pangolin scales: However, he wants to go a step further by releasing into the wild all captive pangolins in China and burning all confiscated pangolin scales, similar to how Kenya incinerated seized elephant tusks in a bid to end the illegal trade that continues to this day:

#AceNewsDesk report ……………….Published: June.12: 2020:

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Pictures below were added to this reblog by me from the internet, as I was so curious to see what this pangolin creature looks like. There are many different ones, depending on the area and country its from, they can look quite different.

 

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