Wild Pangolin Conservation: The Most Trafficked Mammal

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals, facing catastrophic welfare harms from poaching, trafficking, and captivity before rescue or death.

Key Facts

All eight pangolin species are threatened with Sunda and Chinese pangolins listed as Critically Endangered
An estimated 200,000 pangolins are trafficked annually for their scales used in traditional medicine and meat
Pangolins die rapidly in captivity from stress, respiratory disease, and inability to feed making rehabilitation extremely difficult
Their unique defensive behavior of rolling into a ball makes them easy to collect by hand once located
CITES Appendix I listing bans international commercial trade but enforcement remains inadequate across their range

Welfare Considerations

Pangolin welfare harms from trafficking are extreme. Individuals are typically caught alive, transported in cramped stressful conditions, and either slaughtered or die from stress and disease before reaching destination markets. The mortality rate during trafficking is very high, meaning only survivors reach markets where they are slaughtered. Rescued pangolins are notoriously difficult to rehabilitate as they have highly specific dietary and behavioral needs that are difficult to replicate in captivity. Reducing demand for pangolin products through traditional medicine alternative promotion is critical for reducing welfare harms at scale.

What You Can Do

Support anti-poaching and border enforcement programs protecting all eight pangolin species
Donate to pangolin conservation organizations working on demand reduction in consumer markets
Never purchase traditional medicine products containing pangolin scales or derivatives
Advocate for stronger enforcement of CITES pangolin trade bans and penalty increases for traffickers