Chinese 'pangolin princess' detained after allegedly eating endangered animals

Another pangolin-eating controversy has erupted in China, after police in Shenzhen detained a woman over photos that appear to show her feasting on the endangered animal.

The woman, identified by authorities only as Lin, has been dubbed the "pangolin princess" by Chinese social media users, Shanghaiist reported.

According to People's Daily Online, she was detained for investigations on Feb 13, following the discovery of a number of posts and photos she had made on Weibo back in 2011 and 2012.

In one of the posts from 2011, Lin wrote and posted photos about eating a stew said to be made from eight animals, including pangolin, snake and swan. Lin claimed that she had not been able to refuse her relatives' requests, and had drank two bowls of the soup.

In another post, she shared a photo of a plate of "pangolin blood fried rice". She wrote that it was her first time eating such a "special" dish.

In March 2012, Lin also shared a photo of a bowl of soup made from caterpillar fungus and pangolin. She said that the soup had been left to boil for four hours, and was very delicious.

Pangolins are a class-two protected species in China, and is believed to be one of the most trafficked animals in Asia, reported Sina News. They are prized in traditional Chinese medicine as it is believed their scales are good for illnesses like cancer and asthma. Their meat is also considered to be a delicacy.

According to Shanghaiist, the creatures can fetch up to 5,000 yuan (S$1,030) per kilogram.

The issue of eating pangolins recently arose after photos emerged on social media of a Hong Kong businessman, who was later identified as Calvin Lee Ka-wo, eating pangolin meat at an official banquet in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Authorities there subsequently launched a probe into the matter.

Read also: Identities of pangolin dinner attendees named

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