Pangolins are the world most heavily trafficked mammals, facing severe suffering from capture, transport, and slaughter for scales and meat in illegal wildlife markets.
Pangolin trafficking causes acute and prolonged suffering at every stage. Capture is traumatic for an animal whose primary defense is curling up motionless. Transport in overcrowded bags causes dehydration, injury, and stress over days. Pangolins that survive to market are often weakened and emaciated. Attempts at veterinary care and rehabilitation frequently fail due to their highly specialized dietary needs. The scale of suffering is staggering — millions of individuals subjected to this ordeal over recent decades. Demand reduction in consumer countries, particularly for traditional medicine products, is the most effective intervention.