Uncensored: Illegal Pangolin Videos on Social Media (EP2)

Overview

The video alleges that wildlife trafficking, specifically live pangolin capture and consumption, is being openly promoted on Chinese-language social media. It claims that Chinese tourists and organized criminal networks (“triads”) are shown using and eating pangolins in Laos.

Key Claims and Evidence Presented

Pricing and Trafficking Value

• The narrator claims a pangolin can be sold for extremely high sums (e.g., “10,000 RMB for one”).
• It provides pricing breakdowns such as:
  • ~1,600 RMB per catty
  • around 1,000 RMB per kilogram
• The video states that pangolin scales are especially valuable for traditional medicine.

Demand and Use in Traditional Medicine

• Pangolin scales are described as widely used in Chinese herbal medicine.
• The subtitles reportedly mention market pricing such as “2000 RMB per catty.”

Live Capture and Consumption Content on Social Media

• The video compiles clips showing live pangolins being displayed, handled, and cooked.
• It cites examples of dishes, including:
  • “pangolin fried rice with pangolin blood”
  • stewed pangolin meat
  • pangolin soup

Normalization of Illegal Activity

• Multiple scenes depict diners treating pangolin as a “luxury” or “nourishing” meal.
• Guides or restaurant staff discuss:
  • sourcing
  • quantities (e.g., catties/kilograms)
  • preparation
• The activity is framed as a casual tourism experience rather than contraband.

Laos Geography and Alleged Evasion

• The narrator portrays Laos as a “Wild West” where trafficking is easier.
• The video suggests that posts are made with an implied effort to avoid detection, including repeated statements that items are in Laos and not being carried into China.

Call to Action

• A central goal stated in the video is to pressure major internet platforms to immediately purge illegal wildlife-trafficking content from their services.

Investigation Framing

• The host/interviewer describes themselves as conducting an “investigator” effort—collecting and compiling evidence from social media to expose alleged wrongdoing and cruelty.

Named Presenters / Contributors (from subtitles)

• Chef Zhang (restaurant referenced)
• The investigator / host (name not provided)
• Sister (mentioned, unnamed)