All eight pangolin species are threatened by poaching for their scales and meat. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, with millions killed annually under conditions that cause acute and prolonged suffering.
Pangolin trafficking causes severe acute welfare harm. Capture typically involves snaring, trapping, or being beaten off trees — all causing physical injury. Live pangolins are transported in sacks or crates in cramped, stressful conditions for days or weeks. Many die in transit from stress, injury, dehydration, and starvation. Those who survive to market may be kept alive in terrible conditions until purchase. Pangolins slaughtered for scales are often boiled alive. Even pangolins confiscated by authorities and referred for rehabilitation face poor outcomes — their extreme dietary specialisation makes captive survival difficult without exceptional facilities. The combination of acute suffering during trafficking and the massive scale of the trade makes pangolins one of the most significant wildlife welfare emergencies globally.