Pangolins: The Most Trafficked Mammal You've Never Heard Of | National Geographic

Summary

The pangolin, the world's most trafficked mammal, faces critical threats from poaching and habitat loss, driven by demand for its scales in traditional medicine and luxury goods, particularly in China and Vietnam. With all eight species at risk of extinction, pangolins are hunted at alarming rates, with over a million taken in the past decade. Their unique role in ecosystems, controlling termite populations, highlights the ecological consequences of their decline. Despite international trade bans, enforcement remains weak. Urgent conservation efforts are needed to protect these vulnerable creatures and preserve biodiversity.

Takeaways

• 🦔 Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals, despite their unique appearance and being classified as mammals.
• 🌍 There are eight species of pangolins, all found in tropical Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and all are at risk of extinction.
• 🚨 Over one million pangolins have been poached in the past decade, with trafficking routes shifting to evade law enforcement.
• 💊 Pangolin scales are used in traditional medicine in China and Vietnam, despite having no scientific basis for their claimed benefits.
• 🏵️ Wealthy individuals consume pangolins as a status symbol, particularly in parts of Asia.
• 📉 The international treaty on wildlife trade voted to ban all commercial trade in pangolins in 2016, yet poaching continues at alarming rates.
• 🐾 Pangolins face habitat loss and reproduce slowly, giving birth to only one baby per year, exacerbating their risk of extinction.
• ⚠️ Pangolin trafficking is linked to broader criminal networks that also threaten species like elephants and rhinos.
• 🌾 Pangolins play a crucial ecological role by consuming termites, which helps protect crops and buildings.
• 🐢 Conservation efforts are needed, including reducing demand for pangolins and enforcing anti-poaching laws to prevent their extinction.

Q & A

What is a pangolin and how does it differ from reptiles?

A pangolin is the world's most trafficked mammal, despite its lizard-like appearance. It is indeed a mammal, covered in scales made of keratin, similar to fingernails.

What are the sizes of different pangolin species?

Pangolins can vary in size, with some as small as a house cat and others as large as a medium-sized dog.

What natural defense mechanism do pangolins use against predators?

When threatened, pangolins curl up into a ball as a natural defense mechanism to protect themselves.

What are the main threats to pangolins?

The primary threat to pangolins is poaching, driven by demand for their scales and meat in traditional medicine and luxury goods, especially in China and Vietnam.

How many pangolins have been poached in the last decade?

According to estimates, more than one million pangolins have been poached in the past decade.

What scientific evidence supports the medicinal use of pangolin scales?

There is no scientific basis for the medicinal use of pangolin scales; they are primarily made of keratin and do not have the health benefits attributed to them.

What was the significance of the 2016 international treaty regarding pangolins?

In 2016, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted to ban all commercial trade in pangolins to help protect the species from extinction.

Why are pangolins important for the ecosystem?

Pangolins play a crucial ecological role by eating termites, which helps protect crops and buildings from being destroyed by these pests.

What challenges do pangolins face in terms of reproduction?

Pangolins reproduce slowly, typically giving birth to only one baby a year, which makes it difficult for their populations to recover from declines.

What can be done to ensure the survival of pangolins?

To ensure the survival of pangolins, countries must work to reduce demand for pangolin products and enforce stricter laws against poaching.