May 15, 2019

The scale(s) of the black market pangolin trade

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Gig economy workers can't unionize. There's a good reason the NBA Draft is a lottery. Everybody wants a pangolin, and it's not only because they're really cute.

Segments From this episode

Here's why the NBA's draft is a game of chance

by Andy Uhler

May 15, 2019

There's way more to one player than meets the eye.

Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Michigan State Spartans in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

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The pangolin black market is fueled by its scales, not its good looks

by Kimberly Adams

May 15, 2019

Pangolin scales are in demand primarily for traditional Chinese medicine.

A baby Sunda pangolin nicknamed 'Sandshrew' is taken out for feeding by Serena Oh, assistant director and head vet of Veterinary Services in Wildlife Reserves Singapore, at the Singapore Zoo on June 30, 2017. Sandshrew was brought to the Wildlife Health and Research Centre on January 16, reportedly found stranded in the Upper Thomson area by a member of the public. Sunda pangolins are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Basketball Bow Wow, Jermaine Dupri, Fabolous, Fundisha

The team

David Brancaccio Host

Victoria Craig Host, BBC

Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC

Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC

Daniel Shin Producer

Brian Allison Engineer

Meredith Garretson Morbey Senior Producer

Erika Soderstrom Producer

Rose Conlon Producer

Alex Schroeder Producer

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