Pangolins are unique mammals, the only ones covered entirely in protective keratin scales, resembling walking artichokes with tails. This armored exterior, however, has not protected them from becoming the most trafficked mammal globally. The demand for their parts has driven all eight species to the brink of extinction, creating one of the most serious wildlife crises today.
Identifying the Eight Pangolin Species
The pangolin family, known as Pholidota, encompasses eight distinct species distributed across two continents. Four species are native to Asia, including the Chinese pangolin, Sunda pangolin, Indian pangolin, and Philippine pangolin.
The other four species inhabit Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. These include the Black-bellied pangolin, White-bellied pangolin, Giant Ground pangolin, and Temminck’s Ground pangolin. Each species occupies a specific ecological niche, with some being arboreal, such as the White-bellied pangolin, while others are terrestrial and dwell in burrows.
Why Determining Exact Population Numbers Is Impossible
No definitive scientific census exists to provide an exact count of the remaining pangolins in the world. Their survival status relies on inferred decline rates because their natural behavior makes them extremely difficult to monitor directly. Pangolins are solitary, primarily nocturnal animals that spend their days resting in deep underground burrows or high in dense forest canopies.
Researchers rely heavily on analyses of habitat loss, localized monitoring efforts, and the sheer volume of animals confiscated from illegal trade. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses the species’ status by inferring population declines over three generations. For the Critically Endangered Asian species, such as the Sunda pangolin, this inference suggests population declines potentially exceeding 80% over a 21-year period.
The Illegal Trade Driving Pangolins Toward Extinction
The primary factor driving the collapse of pangolin populations is the massive, organized illegal wildlife trade. More than a million pangolins are estimated to have been poached and illegally traded over the past decade, making them the most trafficked mammal globally. This trade is fueled by high consumer demand, predominantly in Asian markets, particularly in China and Vietnam.
Pangolin scales are highly sought after for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where they are claimed to treat a range of ailments. However, the scales are made of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails and hair, and possess no proven medicinal properties. The meat is also considered a delicacy and a status symbol when consumed at high-end restaurants.
The severe depletion of the four Asian pangolin species has caused trafficking networks to shift their focus to Africa. This has placed increasing pressure on the African species, with massive shipments of African pangolin scales now regularly intercepted en route to Asia. Organized criminal networks manage this highly lucrative trade, utilizing complex trafficking routes that span multiple continents. Large seizures, sometimes involving metric tons of scales, highlight the industrial scale of the poaching operation. This relentless demand, combined with the pangolin’s low reproductive rate of typically one offspring per year, makes the current exploitation wholly unsustainable.
Global Protective Measures and Conservation Initiatives
In response to the crisis, all eight pangolin species were granted the highest level of international protection. At the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) in 2016, all eight species were uplisted to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This designation enforces an international ban on all commercial trade in pangolins and their parts.
Despite this global ban, all eight species remain classified on the IUCN Red List as either Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered, indicating an ongoing decline. Active conservation initiatives focus on a multi-pronged approach to intervention. These efforts include:
Strengthening law enforcement capacity, such as training customs officials and anti-poaching patrol units in range states across Africa and Asia.
Working with local populations through community-based conservation programs to establish alternative livelihoods.
Targeted demand reduction campaigns in consumer countries like China and Vietnam to change consumer behavior and promote alternatives to pangolin products in traditional medicine.