Conservation Criminology & Nature Crime

There is a newer version of the record available.

Published April 8, 2026 | Version v2
Dataset Open

Descriptor: Participatory Mapping of Trade in Pangolin Scales and Other Wildlife in Cameroon (PMPSOWC)

Authors/Creators

  • 1. EDMO icon University of Maryland
  • 2. Zoological Society of London, Cameroon
  • 3. ROR icon University of Southern California
  • 4. ROR icon Florida International University

Description

Spatial Variable Definition Details Relevant to Pangolins Relevant to Other Wildlife
Recruiting co-offenders Location where a dealer identifies and brings in two or more individuals to participate as teammates or co-offenders  across the different stages of the scale trade Teammates can include hunters, transporters, middlemen. Co-offender teambuilding can include contacting trusted people through referrals, assigning roles, and other activities required to carry out the trade X  
Team meeting Location where team members meet to coordinate future scale trade activities Meeting topics can include determining current scale availability, negotiating prices, quantities, and plan logistics for product movement X  
Tool acquisition Location where equipment is obtained to hunt pangolins and transport their scales Team members acquire tools such as hunting implements, bags, and containers that will be used to capture animals and move the scales through the trading supply chain X  
Team meet up Location where hunters and team members meet for a final briefing before embarking  Team members plan the activity, assign roles, share information, and arrange the meeting point after hunting X  
Pangolin harvest  Location where pangolins are captured or killed by hunters Hunters locate, capture, or kill pangolins X  
Other wildlife harvest Location where other wildlife are captured or killed by hunters Hunters locate, capture and kill other wildlife species   X
Order placement Location where team members meet other people to place orders for scales, sometimes giving a cash advance Discussion may include negotiating prices, quantities, and placing orders using cash before the actual movement or delivery of scales X  
Scale removal Location where scales are separated from the animal Hunters or processors remove scales (soaking in warm water and scraping with knives or sticks) and prepare for drying,  storage,and  transport within the trade chain X  
Scale exchange Location where pangolin scales are transferred between actors in the trade chain Hunters, middlemen, and traders exchange scales for money X  
Wildlife market Location where scales and other wildlife products are traded Market could be in villages, satellite towns, and capital cities. At these markets, traders and middlemen exchange wildlife products according to prices negotiated and may arrange further distribution to other areas X X
Local scale aggregation Local location where pangolin scales collected from different hunters or sellers are brought together and consolidated Middlemen or traders sort, package, and prepare scales for bulk transport, or resell to higher-level dealers within the network, often in local villages X  
Other wildlife aggregation Local location where other wildlife products collected from different hunters or sellers are brought together and consolidated Middlemen or traders sort, package, and prepare other wildlife products for bulk transport, or resell to higher-level dealers within the network, often in local villages   X
Scale storage Location where aggregated pangolin scales are kept, cached, or stockpiled  Storage may occur in locations including houses, warehouses, or hidden locations to accumulate larger quantities and reduce the risk of detection, often in larger towns or cities X  
Other wildlife storage Location where other aggregated wildlife products are kept, cached, or stockpiled Storage may occur in  houses, warehouses, or hidden locations to accumulate larger quantities and reduce the risk of detection, often in larger towns or cities   X
Consumption point Location where pangolin scales and other wildlife products, but not meat, are consumed or otherwise used Scales meet the final consumer who will use the scales and other wildlife products, but not meat, for a variety of purposes X X
Elude law enforcement Location where team members avoid detection by enforcement authorities These may be villages or towns  X  

Files

OperationPangolinMaps.gdb-20260408T191539Z-3-001.zip

Files (1.4 MB)

Additional details

Funding

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation