Pangolins, often called scaly anteaters, are unique mammals found across Asia and Africa, distinguished by the large, armor-like plates that cover their bodies. Despite existing for over 80 million years, they have become the world’s most trafficked mammal, driven to the brink of extinction by illegal trade. This heavy demand centers almost entirely on their distinctive scales, which are harvested and sold as a commodity in the black market. The intense pressure from poaching has pushed all eight pangolin species toward a severe conservation crisis, with populations rapidly declining in the wild.
The Biological Structure of Pangolin Scales
The protective covering that defines the pangolin is composed entirely of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and fingernails. Pangolins are the only mammals to possess this feature, which serves as a highly effective defense mechanism against natural predators like lions and leopards. When threatened, the animal curls into a tight, nearly impenetrable ball, presenting an external layer of sharp, overlapping scales.
Unlike the scales of reptiles, pangolin scales grow from the skin in layers of specialized, hardened cells. They are uniquely arranged in a cross-lamellar structure, which provides exceptional bonding strength and shear resistance, making them incredibly tough. This robust armor offers no protection against the primary threat to the animal’s survival: human poachers.
Traditional Uses and Scientific Reality
The primary driver of the value and demand for pangolin scales stems from their use in Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM), where they are known as “Squama Manitis.” Historical claims attribute various medicinal properties to the scales, asserting their effectiveness in treating ailments. These traditional uses include:
- Improving blood circulation.
- Alleviating skin diseases.
- Reducing swelling.
- Promoting lactation in breastfeeding women.
A closer look at the scales’ composition reveals the disconnect between belief and biology. Since the scales are made of keratin, they possess no intrinsic medicinal value, a fact confirmed by modern scientific analysis. Researchers have debunked the claims that pangolin scales contain any pharmacologically active substances, such as the analgesic tramadol. Despite this scientific reality, the unfounded belief in the scales’ therapeutic properties continues to fuel the illegal trade for a product that is biologically inert.
The Global Poaching Crisis and Illegal Trade
The persistent demand has created a global poaching crisis, resulting in an estimated one million pangolins being removed from the wild in the decade leading up to 2014. Current estimates suggest that up to 2.7 million African pangolins may be poached annually to supply the market for their scales and meat. This unsustainable harvest threatens all eight species—four in Asia and four in Africa—which are now all listed on the IUCN Red List with rapidly decreasing populations.
To combat this trade, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) took action in 2016. All eight pangolin species were moved to CITES Appendix I, enacting a ban on all international commercial trade of the animals and their parts, effective January 2017. Despite this international protection, the illegal wildlife trade continues to thrive. Organized criminal networks traffic tens of thousands of pounds of scales in massive shipments, often co-mingled with other illicit wildlife products like elephant ivory. The volume of scales seized demonstrates that the international ban has not fully deterred the sophisticated poaching and smuggling operations pushing these creatures toward extinction.