The pangolin, a creature covered in large, overlapping, plate-like scales, has become the most trafficked mammal in the world. This solitary, nocturnal animal is highly sought after across Asia, primarily due to the intense demand for its meat and, more significantly, its distinctive scales. The relentless poaching and illegal trade driven by this demand pose an existential threat to all eight species of pangolin found across Africa and Asia.
The Biological Makeup of Pangolin Scales
Pangolin scales, which can account for roughly 20% of the animal’s body weight, are composed entirely of keratin. This protein is the same fibrous material that forms human hair and fingernails, as well as the horns of rhinos. The scales are structurally designed to act as armor, allowing the pangolin to curl into a tight, nearly impenetrable ball when threatened by predators. This composition means the scales are simply compressed bundles of protein, offering no unique medicinal compounds beyond what can be found in a person’s own trimmed nails.
Claimed Applications in Traditional Medicine
The continued demand for pangolin scales is rooted in centuries-old practices, primarily Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where the scales are known as Squama Manitis. Practitioners historically prescribe them for a variety of conditions, believing the scales possess properties that improve blood circulation and help clear blockages. One of the most frequently cited uses is to promote lactation in new mothers, particularly to address mammary gland blockages. Other traditional applications include using the ground-up scales to reduce swelling, treat skin diseases such as chronic leg ulcers and verruca plana, and alleviate symptoms of rheumatism.
These uses are based on traditional belief and empirical observation rather than modern pharmacological evidence. While China removed raw pangolin scales from its official list of approved TCM ingredients in the 2020 pharmacopeia, they remain listed as components in various officially approved medicinal recipes. This continued listing legitimizes their use and sustains the demand.
The Mechanics of Illegal Trafficking
The high demand for pangolin scales fuels a sophisticated and highly profitable global black market run by organized criminal networks. Poachers typically source the animals from their native ranges in Asia and increasingly in Africa. The scales are then stripped from the animals and smuggled in massive consignments, often mislabeled as other commercial goods to evade detection. Shipments are frequently routed from West and Central Africa, with Nigeria emerging as a significant exit point for the trade.
These vast quantities of scales, which can sometimes weigh several tons per seizure, are primarily destined for consumer markets in Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. The financial incentive is considerable, with pangolin scales fetching up to $3,000 per kilogram on the black market. Estimates suggest over a million pangolins have been illegally harvested in the last decade to feed this illicit supply chain.
The Global Conservation Status
The unsustainable harvesting driven by the trade in scales has had a devastating effect on pangolin populations worldwide. All eight species are now listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. Three Asian species and one African species are classified as Critically Endangered due to rapid population declines.
The demand was initially met by Asian species, but as their populations collapsed under intense pressure, trafficking has increasingly shifted to target the four African pangolin species. This shift has resulted in African pangolins being smuggled in enormous volumes to meet the continuing Asian demand. The collapse of local populations across Southeast Asia has placed immense pressure on African species, pushing them closer to the brink of extinction.
Stopping the Demand
The international community has taken legal steps to protect pangolins by listing all eight species under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This designation prohibits all international commercial trade in pangolins and their parts. Alongside legal enforcement, efforts are underway to address the root cause of the problem by reducing consumer demand.
Conservation groups and practitioners are working to educate consumers about the lack of scientific basis for the scales’ medicinal value and the immediate threat the trade poses to the species. This involves promoting the use of herbal or synthetic alternatives within TCM communities to reduce reliance on wildlife products. Some TCM professionals advocate for ingredients like pig’s trotters, which are believed to have similar effects to pangolin scales for promoting lactation. By coupling strict international trade bans with public awareness campaigns, conservationists hope to diminish the market that drives illegal trafficking.