The Use and Prescription of Pangolin in Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

It is now acknowledged that demand stemming from traditional medicine stimulates a continued market for illegal wildlife trade globally. Increasing pangolin fuels widespread unsustainable extraction and an illicit international threatening populations worldwide. Vietnam important transit country in this trafficking network significant consumer country, particularly due to their longstanding tradition of consuming products as medicine. We conducted 51 semi-structured, questionnaire-based interviews with Vietnamese practitioners Hanoi, explore the factors influencing prescription pangolin. The results show are drivers use continues despite prohibitive legislation. main were money, illegality (as deterrent) supply. Wealthier patients more likely generally trusted doctor’s prescription. Awareness regulations related was low without fear law. Lactation, abscesses circulation most prescribed uses scales. All respondents believed can be substituted, however, belief remained substitutes inferior This study provides unique perspective one consumption countries world. suggest law not being implemented effectively increased enforcement efforts necessary. Furthermore, these insights serve inform future demand-reduction campaigns whereby common scales may targeted.