Wild Pangolin Trafficking and Welfare

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammal, with all eight species threatened by demand for scales and meat, causing immense suffering to millions of individual animals.

Key Facts

An estimated 1 million pangolins have been trafficked in the past decade
All eight pangolin species are protected under CITES Appendix I banning commercial international trade
Pangolins are captured alive and transported in sacks, causing stress, injury, and high mortality
Scale demand driven by traditional medicine claims provides no evidence-based health benefit
Pangolins in captivity have extremely poor survival rates due to specialized dietary needs

Welfare Considerations

Trafficked pangolins experience profound suffering across every stage of the illegal trade. Captured animals are transported in tightly packed sacks for days without food or water, often sustaining injuries from handling. High mortality during transport means only a fraction of captured animals survive to reach markets. Those that survive often die in holding facilities from stress and inability to eat. Pangolins are shy, specialized animals that curl into a defensive ball when threatened - a behavior exploited by poachers who can simply pick them up. Their welfare needs in captivity cannot be met commercially.

What You Can Do

Never purchase or use products containing pangolin scales or meat
Report suspected pangolin trafficking to local wildlife crime authorities or TRAFFIC
Support the Pangolin Crisis Fund and African Pangolin Working Group
Advocate for stronger enforcement of CITES protections and wildlife crime penalties
Support demand reduction campaigns in consumer markets, particularly through traditional medicine reform