Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammals globally, suffering severe welfare harms throughout the capture, transport, and sale process that kills the majority before reaching their destination.
Pangolins captured for the illegal trade experience extreme stress from the moment of capture. These shy, nocturnal animals curl into defensive balls when threatened — a posture that makes them easy to collect but provides no protection against human handling. Transport in overcrowded, poorly ventilated conditions causes respiratory disease, dehydration, and injury. Animals may spend weeks in transit before reaching markets. The mortality rate during transport is estimated to exceed 50 percent. Confiscated pangolins that survive to rehabilitation face challenges sustaining them in captivity due to their highly specialized diet of specific ant and termite species. Reducing demand through consumer education is the most impactful intervention.