The Tubbataha reef, off the western island of Palawan, is a World Heritage-listed site. It is home to hundreds of fragile coral species, as well as fish, sharks, dolphins and whales. [AFP PHOTO / Philippines Coast Guard]

On Tuesday (April 9th), Philippine maritime authorities said a Chinese fishing boat had been discovered the previous day after running aground on the reef. [AFP/Philippines Naval Forces West handout]

This undated Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) handout photo shows the Chinese fishing boat said to have struck the reef. The area is roughly 1,600km from China's nearest major landmass. [AFP/TMO]

The Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) took Chinese fishermen into custody after the reef incident. As they searched the vessel, Philippine authorities found hundreds of protected pangolins – or scaly anteaters – frozen and stowed away. [AFP/TMO]

This April 10th TMO handout photo shows the detained Chinese fishermen in custody at the port of Puerto Princesa on Palawan Island, Western Philippines. [AFP/TMO]

In this file photo, a pangolin is seen out of its cage after being confiscated by Malaysia's Department of Wildlife and Natural Parks in Kuala Lumpur. As recently as 2009, wildlife experts and activists warned that Chinese demand for the meat and other parts of the anteaters is wiping out pangolin populations in Southeast Asia. They called on regional governments to step up efforts against illegal trafficking of the mammals. [Jimin Lai/AFP]

Protesters donning snorkels rally in front of the Chinese consular office in Manila's financial district, April 10th. They expressed displeasure with alleged Chinese poachers. [Ted Aljibe/AFP]

This undated (PCG) handout photo received April 10th shows a coast guard member (left) speaking with Chinese fishermen aboard their vessel after it ran aground. Authorities later searched the cargo hold. [AFP/PCG]

Protesters angry over poaching and environmental damage voiced their demands outside the Chinese consular office in Manila. [Jay Directo/AFP]

Coast guard personnel inspect the cargo hold of a Chinese boat that ran aground off Tubbataha reef, on April 9th. The search turned up hundreds of frozen pangolins. The scaly anteaters, considered a delicacy in China, are becoming increasingly endangered in Southeast Asia. [AFP/PCG]

Coast Guard officials display samples of pangolin meat found April 13th in the cargo hold of the Chinese boat. [AFP/TMO]

After frozen pangolins were found in the Chinese fishing vessel's cargo hold, its 12-man crew was taken into custody. They could face up to 20 years in prison for poaching the scaly anteaters, Philippine wildlife authorities said on April 17th. [AFP/TMO]