Pangolin Trafficking: The World's Most Traded Wild Mammal

Pangolins are trafficked in greater numbers than any other wild mammal, causing enormous individual suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated one million pangolins were trafficked in the past decade
All eight pangolin species are either Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered
Pangolins die rapidly in captivity from stress, injury, and inability to feed on natural ant prey
They roll into balls when threatened — effective against predators but not against human poachers
Traditional medicine demand drives most trafficking despite zero clinical evidence for pangolin scale efficacy

Welfare Considerations

Pangolin trafficking causes extreme welfare suffering at every stage: capture, transport in cramped and stressful conditions, and the near-universal death in captivity from stress and inability to feed. Pangolins captured alive for the live animal market experience prolonged suffering before death. Scales removed post-mortem are used in traditional medicine, creating demand that cannot be satisfied with synthetics of equal efficacy (since there is none). Demand reduction in consumer countries is the primary welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Never purchase or use products containing pangolin scales or meat
Support WildAid and the Environmental Investigation Agency pangolin campaigns
Advocate for traditional medicine communities to adopt evidence-based alternatives
Support pangolin rescue and rehabilitation programs in range countries
Share information about pangolin welfare with communities interested in wildlife conservation