Pangolins are the world's most trafficked wild mammal, with all eight species facing extinction driven by demand for their scales and meat in Asia, with horrific welfare conditions throughout the trade.
Pangolin trafficking causes extreme welfare suffering throughout the supply chain: animals are taken from the wild by hand or trap, transported in cramped, dark conditions without food or water for days, and die at high rates before reaching markets. Those that reach markets may be kept alive in appalling conditions before slaughter. The stress of captivity alone causes fatal physiological failure in many individuals. Demand reduction campaigns in key consumer markets — particularly China and Vietnam — are the most critical lever for reducing this welfare crisis. Education campaigns highlighting the inefficacy of pangolin scale medicines and the severity of conservation impacts have shown some promise in reducing consumer demand.