What's known about the source of novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2/covid 19) outbreak so far?

Similar strains of the virus were found in bats. However, the closest of these strains to the covid19 sequence found in bats would have to go through quite a number of mutations to

arrive at a spike shape that fits the human receptor required for human infection well. This all but ruled out direct transmission from bats to humans.

Consequently, a search has been ongoing for a supposed "intermediate host" that could have passed the virus onto humans.

Initially, two types of snakes, the Chinese krait & the Chinese cobra, 2 snakes sold at the Huanan seafood wholesale market in wuhan, were touted as the possible intermediate hosts. However, this has since been disproved scientifically due to a number of reasons.

ENTER THE PANGOLIN.

Also known as the scaly anteater, it is the only known mammal with scales and is found in Asia & Africa.
There are 8 known species of pangolins; 4 are found in Asia while the other 4 are found in Africa.
All 8 species of this animal are protected under

National & international laws, while 2 are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

They are the MOST trafficked animals in the world because they're highly priced by consumers for their meat &

their unique scales.

"Over the past decade, over a million pangolins have been illegally taken from the wild to feed demand in China and Vietnam.
Their meat is considered a delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine as they are believed to treat

a range of ailments from asthma to rheumatism and arthritis".

So a similar strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was isolated in the pangolin. One particular strain of the pangolin virus was found to have a better human receptor fit (91%), giving a bit more leverage to the hypothesis that the pangolins were an intermediate host for the virus.

Is this true? Or has the pangolin been chosen as "the fall guy" due to the fact that it's so widely poached to the point of being considered endangered?

We watch.