Why are Pangolins the World’s Most Trafficked Mammal?

Pangolins are ancient creatures found in Africa and Asia. They’ve been around for over 80 million years, and today, they are the only scaled mammal on Earth. Sadly, these insectivores lay claim to a far less desirable title, too: they are the most trafficked mammal species in the world, bar none.

When you first see a pangolin, it looks like an armadillo that walks on two legs. In reality, these cute, scaled creatures are more closely related to dogs, cats, and bears.

In this brief article, we’ll take a look at pangolin conservation and learn more about how the illegal wildlife trade is decimating a species that once lived among the dinosaurs.

Pangolins: Walking Pinecones

Pangolins are about the size of your average house cat, covered from head to toe in protective scales. They have a long, counterbalancing tail that allows them to walk bipedally. Like humans and apes, they’re one of the few walk-on-two-legs creatures in the world!

They consume ants and termites with long, sticky, ant-eater tongues. Their sharp claws help to dig into mounds and bark for food. They’re vital to local ecosystems since they churn the soil and cut down on pests. One pangolin can gulp down 70 million insects in just a year!

These nocturnal creatures are shy and non-aggressive; they’ll roll into a defensive ball upon provocation. Stick around, and they may squirt you with a skunk-like, foul-smelling odour to deter you. You’d be very lucky to spot one on your scheduled safari tour.

Pangolin Trafficking

Trafficking pangolins is, regrettably, a lucrative wildlife trade. The main culprit of their exploitation is Chinese traditional medicine. In a nutshell, traditional medicine posits that some rare, exotic animals serve as “magical” remedies to certain ailments.

Powdered pangolin claws and scales allegedly treat inflammation, skin disease, and lactation issues. There is no scientific evidence backing up these claims. Aside from traditional medicine, people hunt them for bush meat and as an East Asian delicacy.

Unfortunately, all eight species of pangolins are endangered. When the pangolins disappear, the ecosystem they leave behind suffers. After all, they control insect populations and aerate the soil.

Fortunately, China removed pangolins from their approved ingredients list for traditional Chinese medicine. Illegal wildlife poaching, as it always has, continues despite this amendment. Wildlife protection efforts in pangolins’ natural habitats as well as abroad work hard to crack down on illegal poaching.

Pangolin Conservation

What can you do to help? One answer is responsible wildlife tourism. That is, responsible tourism with sustainable travel that preserves natural environments and their inhabitants.

Luxury ecotourism gives you unforgettable safari experiences that help rather than hurt the incredible destinations you explore on your travels. The money you pay subsidises initiatives to protect wildlife in Africa and elsewhere. African wildlife protection is dependent on donations and volunteer work, all of which require funding.

Furthermore, you can donate to pangolin conservation funds. Urge your elected representatives to vote for conservationist policies. The bipartisan Preventing Future Pandemics Act is a recent example.

Pangolin conservation is a must to protect these innocent scaled mammals from rampant poaching. You can contribute to their protection by taking part in luxury ecotourism that contributes to effective initiatives. Otherwise, you can donate to protection funds and vote for conservation efforts.

Discover Africa lets you both see Africa and help it thrive. Contact us today to start planning your sustainable safari.