This photograph taken on December 14, 2018 shows veterinary staff examining a sunda pangolin in the wildlife healthcare and research centre at Singapore Zoo. - Singapore is creating a vast eco-tourism zone to draw more visitors to the city-state but environmentalists fear the development will damage natural habitats and are already blaming it for a series of animal deaths. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP) / TO GO WITH Singapore-environment-wildlife,FEATURE by Sam Reeves (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Chinese scientists have found Pangolin to be a potential intermediate host for the transmission of Coronavirus from bats to humans.
South China Agricultural University researchers believe that there could be an intermediate host for Coronavirus after testing over 1,000 samples of wild animals. The Coronavirus patients exhibit 99% identical genome sequence as on the viruses found on Pangolins.
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The university revealed this in a statement without providing any additional information regarding their research.
The endangered species is reportedly among the most trafficked animals on the globe with a huge demand in China where its meat is sold in the black market and its scales are used for medicinal purposes albeit no medical benefits.
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Following the spread of novel Coronavirus, China has temporarily banned the trade of wild animals. The mysterious virus, which emerged out of an animal market in Wuhan in December last year, has already led to over 600 deaths with over 31,000 cases reported worldwide.
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