Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals globally and extremely difficult to keep in captivity. Their welfare and conservation situation represents one of the most urgent in the animal kingdom.
Pangolin welfare in captivity is among the most challenging of any species, and captive programs are therefore primarily focused on rapid rehabilitation and release rather than long-term holding. Their exclusive insectivore diet (live ants and termites) cannot be fully replicated artificially — feeding on alternative diets causes nutritional deficiencies and organ failure. Their extreme stress sensitivity means handling causes cortisol spikes that can be fatal. Conservation priority for pangolins must be field-based: enforcement against trafficking, habitat protection, and demand reduction for pangolin scales (used in traditional medicine and fashion). Captive breeding as a conservation tool is not currently viable for most pangolin species — wild survival is the only path.