All eight pangolin species are threatened by illegal trade for their scales and meat. Their cryptic nature and poor captive survival rate make conservation uniquely challenging and welfare concerns acute.
The welfare situation for trafficked pangolins is among the most severe in wildlife crime. Animals are typically packed in bags or boxes in large numbers, transported in extreme heat or cold without food or water for days, and subjected to handling and confinement that causes acute physical and psychological distress. Mortality during transit is high. Survivors confiscated by authorities face a second welfare crisis: pangolins almost universally fail to survive in captivity beyond a few months due to dietary incompatibility and chronic stress. The welfare imperative is prevention — intercepting trafficking before animals are removed from the wild — combined with rapid return to appropriate habitat for confiscated animals where possible.