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Pangolins: The World's Most Trafficked Mammal
21 Feb
Summary
- Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammal due to their scales.
- Over a million pangolins were taken from the wild in the last decade.
- Eight species exist, all facing high risks of extinction.
Pangolins, the world's only mammals covered in keratin scales, are now considered the most trafficked mammal globally. Between 2016 and 2024, over half a million pangolins were seized in anti-trafficking operations, and the World Wildlife Fund estimates over a million were taken from the wild in the past decade. Despite their unique defense mechanisms, these shy creatures have no effective defense against human poachers.
The demand for pangolin scales, driven by unproven beliefs in their medicinal properties, is the primary force behind this illegal trade, particularly in China and other parts of Asia. Their meat is also consumed as a delicacy in some regions. All eight existing pangolin species, four in Africa and four in Asia, are at high, very high, or extremely high risk of extinction.
Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect these fascinating, yet often overlooked, animals. In Nigeria, Dr. Mark Ofua runs a rescue center and orphanage, working to raise awareness through educational programs and celebrity endorsements. He emphasizes the critical need for public recognition, stating that it's difficult to protect creatures people don't even know exist.
