Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammal on Earth, hunted for their scales and meat. Their welfare crisis is inseparable from the illegal wildlife trade that threatens all eight species.
Pangolin welfare is compromised at every stage of the illegal trade chain. Capture by snare causes injury. Live transport in crowded, dark conditions causes extreme stress and mortality — many pangolins die before reaching markets. Those that survive to markets or end consumers experience fear, starvation, and often cruel slaughter methods. Rehabilitation of confiscated pangolins is challenging because their dietary specialization and stress sensitivity make survival in captivity difficult. Demand reduction in consuming countries combined with law enforcement and community engagement in source countries is the primary welfare intervention pathway.