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Wildlife Guide · Vietnam & Indonesia

Pangolin

Manis spp. / Smutsia spp. / Phataginus spp.

The world's most trafficked mammal — a million taken in the last decade alone.

IUCN: Critically Endangered
Pangolin curled into a ball on a forest floor

In brief

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals; all eight species are threatened by the illegal trade in their scales, which are used in traditional medicine across Asia.

1M+

Pangolins poached in the last decade

8

Species — all listed as threatened

100kg

Of scales seized in a single bust — 300+ animals

0

Pangolins successfully bred in captivity for release

Key Facts: Pangolin

  • Eight species exist — four in Asia (Indian, Philippine, Sunda, Chinese) and four in Africa (ground, giant ground, tree, long-tailed).
  • Chinese and Sunda pangolins are Critically Endangered; all others are Endangered or Vulnerable.
  • Pangolin scales are made of keratin — the same material as human fingernails — yet are sold for hundreds of dollars per kilogram in traditional medicine markets.
  • When threatened, pangolins curl into a tight ball — an effective defence against predators but useless against human poachers who simply pick them up.
  • No pangolin has ever been successfully bred in captivity at scale and released back into the wild — making wild population protection critical.
  • Vietnam and China are the primary demand markets; Africa has become the main source as Asian populations collapse.

Why Are Pangolin Scales So Valuable?

Pangolin scales are composed entirely of keratin and have no proven medicinal properties. Despite this, they command enormous prices in traditional Chinese and Vietnamese medicine, where they are believed to treat conditions ranging from skin disorders to lactation difficulties. The scales are typically dried, roasted, and ground into powder. Demand has been fuelled by rising middle-class incomes in China and Vietnam, which have made luxury wildlife products — including pangolin meat at high-end restaurants — aspirational goods. International pressure and consumer campaigns have begun to shift attitudes, but enforcement remains inconsistent.

The Shift to African Pangolins

As Asian pangolin populations collapsed, criminal networks pivoted to Africa. Ground pangolins in East and Southern Africa, and tree pangolins in West and Central Africa, are now being poached at industrial scale and shipped to Asia. Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria appear regularly in major seizure records. The pangolin trade from Africa to Asia typically involves multiple transshipment points, refrigerated containers, and falsified customs documentation.

Can Rescued Pangolins Survive?

Pangolins are notoriously difficult to keep alive in captivity. They are specialist feeders — largely dependent on specific ant and termite species — and are highly stressed by human contact and unnatural environments. Rehabilitation is possible when animals are in good condition and held in semi-wild enclosures with access to natural forage, but the success rate is low compared to other mammals. Prevention — stopping poaching before it happens — is the most effective intervention. WARN therefore focuses on anti-poaching patrol support, community engagement, and improving seizure response.

What WARN Does

WARN supports anti-poaching patrol operations and ranger training in Kenya and Tanzania, and works with seizure response teams in Vietnam and Indonesia to improve the care of confiscated animals and build the evidentiary record for prosecutions.

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Pangolin: Frequently Asked Questions

What are pangolin scales made of?
Pangolin scales are made of keratin — exactly the same protein that forms human fingernails, hair, and rhinoceros horn. They have no scientifically proven medicinal value. Despite this, they are listed in traditional Chinese medicine pharmacopoeias and sell for hundreds of dollars per kilogram.
How many pangolins are left in the wild?
Reliable population estimates are difficult because pangolins are nocturnal, solitary, and live in dense vegetation. The IUCN estimates that populations of all species have declined by at least 50% in the past two decades. The Chinese pangolin population is thought to have fallen by 90% or more.
Why are pangolins so hard to save in captivity?
Pangolins are specialist myrmecophages — they eat ants and termites almost exclusively, consuming thousands per day. In captivity, meeting their nutritional needs is extremely difficult. They are also highly sensitive to stress, prone to respiratory infections, and prone to self-harm when confined. No facility has yet succeeded in breeding and releasing pangolins at meaningful scale.
Is the pangolin trade legal?
No. All eight pangolin species have been listed on CITES Appendix I since 2016, prohibiting commercial international trade. China removed pangolin scales from its official pharmacopoeia in 2020. Despite this, the black market trade continues at significant scale because enforcement at source countries remains inadequate.
What can I do to help pangolins?
Supporting organisations working on anti-poaching patrols and seizure response in range countries — like WARN — is one of the most direct ways to help. Consumer campaigns targeting demand in China and Vietnam have also shown results. Reporting suspected wildlife trafficking to the relevant authorities or to TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring network) can help build the intelligence picture.

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