Pangolin Trafficking: The Most Illegally Traded Mammal in the World

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals globally, driven by demand for their scales and meat. All eight species face varying degrees of extinction risk.

Key Facts

Over one million pangolins are estimated to have been trafficked in the past decade
All eight pangolin species are now listed on CITES Appendix I, banning all commercial trade
Pangolin scales are made of keratin — the same material as human fingernails — with no proven medicinal value
When threatened, pangolins roll into a ball, making them easy for poachers to collect
African pangolins face sharply increasing trafficking as Asian species become rarer
Pangolins are notoriously difficult to keep alive in captivity, making rescue and rehabilitation challenging
Four Asian and four African species make up the family Manidae, all under pressure

Welfare Considerations

The suffering of trafficked pangolins is extreme. Animals are typically captured alive, packed into cramped containers without food or water, and transported over thousands of miles before slaughter. Many die during transport. Those who survive face cruel killing practices before their scales are boiled off. In addition to the acute suffering during trafficking, seizure investigations reveal that individual pangolins endure days to weeks of severe stress before reaching their destination. Each pangolin scale represents an animal that suffered.

What You Can Do

Never purchase products containing pangolin scales or pangolin-derived ingredients
Support organizations working on anti-pangolin trafficking enforcement such as WildAid and TRAFFIC
Donate to Save Pangolins and similar conservation organizations
Raise awareness about pangolins — many people do not know they exist, let alone that they are critically threatened
Advocate for stronger CITES enforcement and criminal penalties for wildlife trafficking