Record find shows plight of pangolins

Singapore has seized more than 25.4 tonnes of pangolin scales belonging to around 38,000 of the endangered mammals in the past week.

The global record has spurred calls for more protection for pangolins.

The scales, which were found in shipping containers, have been linked to four species of pangolins native to Africa.

Officials found a record 12.88 tonnes hidden among packets of frozen beef last Wednesday.

Five days later, they found 12.7 more tonnes in 474 bags in another container. Both shipments were en route from Nigeria to Vietnam.