Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world, with all eight species threatened by demand for their scales and meat in Asian markets.
Trafficked pangolins endure extreme suffering during transport: packed tightly in sacks, deprived of food and water, and subjected to temperature extremes for journeys lasting days or weeks. Many die in transit. Survivors that reach markets are kept alive in cramped conditions before slaughter. The stress-induced deaths of pangolins in captivity reflect their highly specialized physiology and the impossibility of meeting their needs in confinement. Rescued pangolins are extraordinarily difficult to rehabilitate and release successfully.