Wild pangolin populations face catastrophic welfare-threatening trafficking that kills millions annually, making them the most trafficked wild mammal globally.
Wild pangolin welfare crises occur throughout the trafficking chain — from poaching that uses snares causing injury and slow death, through transport in cramped conditions without appropriate food, to final consumption. Individual pangolins experience extreme stress during capture and transport that alone causes rapid mortality. The welfare suffering involved in pangolin trafficking is severe and affects enormous numbers of animals annually. The disconnect between the welfare reality of pangolin trafficking and the beliefs driving demand requires targeted communication to reduce consumption. Emergency conservation interventions combined with strong law enforcement and demand reduction represent the most welfare-positive approach.