Pangolin Welfare: Most Trafficked Mammal

All eight species of pangolin are threatened by illegal wildlife trade driven by demand for their scales and meat, with millions trafficked annually in conditions that cause extreme suffering and high mortality.

Key Facts

Pangolins are the most illegally traded wild mammal in the world, with over one million trafficked in the past decade
All eight pangolin species are now listed as Vulnerable to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
Trafficked pangolins are typically kept alive in cramped conditions without food before sale
Pangolin scales are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails, with no proven medicinal benefit
A single large seizure in 2019 contained 14 tonnes of pangolin scales representing approximately 35,000 animals

Welfare Considerations

Pangolin welfare during trafficking is catastrophic. Animals are typically bound tightly to prevent uncurling, stored without food or water, and transported in cramped containers for days or weeks. Stress, dehydration, physical injuries from restraint, and respiratory diseases cause high mortality during transport. Survivors reach markets in highly compromised condition. Pangolins in the wild are also affected by habitat loss and hunting pressure. Rehabilitation of rescued pangolins is exceptionally difficult due to their specialist diet of ants and termites.

What You Can Do

Support TRAFFIC and the Pangolin Crisis Fund which fund anti-poaching and demand reduction campaigns
Avoid purchasing any products claiming to contain pangolin derivatives, including some traditional medicines
Report suspected illegal wildlife trade to the International Fund for Animal Welfare wildlife crime hotline
Donate to specialist pangolin sanctuaries such as African Pangolin Working Group partners