All eight pangolin species are threatened by illegal trade for scales and meat. Rescued pangolins that have experienced trafficking face severe rehabilitation challenges due to their specialized diets and stress sensitivity.
Trafficked pangolins experience extreme stress from handling, confinement, dehydration, and starvation during transport. Rescued individuals often arrive in critical condition. Their specialized insectivore diet (termites and ants) is extremely difficult to replicate in captivity, causing many to die despite care. Pangolins that are stressed may refuse to eat even when food is available. Each rehabilitation success requires months of intensive care and specialist knowledge.