Pangolin Welfare: The World's Most Trafficked Mammal

All eight pangolin species are threatened by illegal wildlife trade for their scales and meat, making them the most trafficked mammals on Earth.

Key Facts

All eight pangolin species are listed on CITES Appendix I, banning international commercial trade
An estimated one million pangolins were illegally traded in the decade to 2014
Their scales — made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails — are falsely believed to have medicinal properties
Pangolins are highly stressed in captivity and rarely survive rescue and rehabilitation
A pangolin curls into a ball when threatened, making it easy for poachers to collect
They eat exclusively ants and termites using a sticky tongue that can extend beyond their body length

Welfare Considerations

Pangolins experience intense stress during capture, transport, and captivity. Their highly specialized diet and behavioral needs make rehabilitation extremely difficult — mortality in rescued pangolins often exceeds 70%. The animals that survive trafficking experience significant suffering throughout the supply chain. The most effective welfare intervention is demand reduction: eliminating markets for pangolin scales and meat collapses the economic incentive for poaching. Consumer education in demand countries, particularly in East and Southeast Asia, has begun shifting attitudes measurably.

What You Can Do

Never purchase products containing pangolin scales or pangolin-derived ingredients
Support organizations like the Pangolin Crisis Fund working to reduce trafficking and demand
Report suspected pangolin trafficking to relevant wildlife crime authorities
Share information about pangolin conservation to raise awareness about the scale of the crisis