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Pangolins: The World's Most Trafficked Mammals
20 Feb
Summary
- Pangolins are the most heavily traded wild mammals globally.
- Millions of pangolins were removed from the wild before 2014.
- Scales lack medical benefits but drive illegal trade demand.
World Pangolin Day, observed on February 21, 2026, highlights the plight of the most trafficked wild mammals on Earth. These scaly, ant-eating creatures are disappearing at an alarming rate, with over a million removed from the wild in the decade leading up to 2014, and illegal trade continuing since.
Pangolins, characterized by their keratin scales and specialized diets, play a crucial role in ecosystems by consuming vast numbers of insects and aiding soil health through their digging. Despite international trade bans, criminal networks exploit demand for their meat as a luxury food and their scales for unproven traditional remedies.
Conservationists launched World Pangolin Day in 2012 to combat the lack of public awareness surrounding these animals. Efforts now focus on educating consumers about the lack of medical value in pangolin products and strengthening international cooperation to dismantle smuggling networks that operate through organized crime.
Rescuing pangolins presents significant challenges due to their specific needs and stress in captivity, making release and prevention paramount. Public awareness and sustained pressure on illegal markets are vital to ensure these ecologically important mammals do not vanish unnoticed.
