Wild Pangolin Scale Trade: Demand Reduction as a Welfare Strategy

Pangolin scale demand in traditional medicine drives the trafficking that kills millions of pangolins. Reducing demand is the most effective welfare intervention at scale.

Key Facts

Pangolin scales have no proven medicinal properties — they are composed of keratin like fingernails
China removed pangolin scales from its official traditional medicine pharmacopoeia in 2020
Vietnam and China are primary demand markets driving the international pangolin trade
Social norm campaigns have successfully reduced shark fin and ivory consumption in Asia
Demand reduction campaigns work best when combined with alternative product availability

Welfare Considerations

Pangolin welfare depends on eliminating the demand that drives their trafficking. Over a million pangolins have been traded in the past decade because of a belief in the medicinal properties of their scales — a belief unsupported by any evidence. The most scalable welfare intervention is demand reduction through education campaigns, celebrity advocacy, and legal alternatives in traditional medicine systems. China's removal of pangolin scales from its pharmacopoeia represents a significant policy shift. Supporting these demand reduction efforts directly translates to fewer pangolins captured, transported, and killed.

What You Can Do

Support demand reduction campaigns targeting pangolin scale consumption
Engage positively with discussions about traditional medicine and wildlife conservation
Share accurate information about pangolin scale inefficacy with interested communities
Support organizations working on demand reduction in key consumer markets