Pakistan's scorpion trade

This is one critter most people do not want to come into contact with. But, in Pakistan, hundreds of people are on the tracks of deadly scorpions which can fetch high prices. A report in Quartz says scorpions are in high demand by western pharmaceutical research companies. The creatures with the venomous sting can be used as an ingredient to develop compounds for anti-cancer medicines.

The demand has triggered a lucrative scorpion trade in Pakistan with catchers, brokers and buyers involved. Al Jazeera reports that a black scorpion weighing 60 grams can bring in $50,000 or more. But, what is all this mass hunting of scorpions doing to the local ecoystem? Environmentalists are worried about the impact on the animal chain with scorpions consumed by lizards and snakes.