Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammal on Earth, with all eight species facing decline from illegal trade for scales and meat. Their welfare during trafficking is among the most acute of any species.
Pangolin welfare during trafficking is among the most distressing documented for any wildlife species. Captured animals are typically held in sacks or small containers for days to weeks, unable to move, forage, or express any natural behavior. Their extreme specialization — pangolins eat only ants and termites found by sophisticated olfactory searching — means that captive feeding is nearly impossible. Most trafficked pangolins die before reaching buyers. Those that survive show pathological stress behaviors including continuous circling, self-directed biting, and unresponsiveness. The rolling defense behavior that makes pangolins fascinating also makes them extraordinarily easy to collect — a person can simply pick up a rolled pangolin without any specialized skills or equipment. Demand reduction in consumer markets remains the critical intervention point for reducing this suffering.