All eight pangolin species face extreme pressure from illegal wildlife trade, with hundreds of thousands trafficked annually — each individual experiencing severe suffering.
Trafficking inflicts severe welfare harm on individual pangolins at every stage. Captured pangolins are typically stuffed into sacks or bags and transported in crowded, dark conditions for days or weeks. The stress of capture and transport causes cortisol surges, refusal to feed, and immune suppression — many pangolins die before reaching markets. Those that survive are held in cages before slaughter. Their natural defense mechanism — rolling into a ball — provides no protection against human handling and may result in prolonged stress posture without escape. Conservation rescue of live pangolins is welfare-positive but difficult: the species resists captivity, eats only live insects, and requires specialized care that few facilities can provide.