Pangolins are the most heavily trafficked wild mammal globally, driven by demand for their scales and meat. The welfare consequences of trafficking and the conservation crisis demand urgent action.
Pangolins seized in illegal trade suffer acutely and often fatally — their extreme stress sensitivity means many die in transit or shortly after seizure. Survivors requiring rehabilitation face additional challenges from inappropriate captive conditions. The welfare suffering of each trafficked individual is compounded by the scale of trade — hundreds of thousands of animals over recent decades. Demand reduction in consumer markets is the most upstream welfare intervention, addressing suffering at its root rather than its consequences.