Wild Pangolin Conservation: Most Trafficked Mammal

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Their welfare in the illegal trade is among the most severe of any wildlife species.

Key Facts

All eight pangolin species are classified as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered
An estimated one million pangolins were trafficked in the decade 2004-2014
Pangolins are trafficked for their scales (used in traditional medicine) and meat
They are extremely stressed in captivity — mortality rates in trafficked animals exceed 90%
Pangolins curl into a ball when threatened — making them easy to pick up and bag for traffickers
They cannot survive in captivity without highly specialised care that few facilities can provide
The Chinese and Sunda pangolin are now classified as Critically Endangered

Welfare Considerations

Pangolin welfare in the illegal wildlife trade involves extreme suffering at every stage. Capture is traumatic — pangolins defensively roll up, making them passive to further handling but acutely stressed. Transport conditions involve prolonged confinement, dehydration, and physical restraint that cause severe physiological stress. The mortality rate of over 90% among trafficked pangolins before reaching buyers reflects conditions that are incompatible with survival. Pangolins are notoriously difficult to maintain in captivity even under optimal conditions — their specialised diet (ants and termites) and stress sensitivity make survival in standard holding conditions impossible. The welfare case for ending pangolin trafficking is thus also a welfare argument that the trade is not even effective at delivering live animals — it kills most of its victims during transit.

What You Can Do

Never purchase pangolin products — scales, meat, or derivative traditional medicines
Support the Pangolin Crisis Fund and Save Pangolins organisations
Donate to anti-trafficking programs targeting pangolin supply chains in range countries
Raise awareness of pangolin trafficking — many people are unaware of its scale
Support community-based conservation programs that provide alternatives to wildlife exploitation