Protecting Pangolins, World's Most-Trafficked Mammal

Plenty of holidays fall in the first three months of the year: Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, … World Pangolin Day (WPD)?

That last one may be lesser-known. But it’s still important, wildlife experts say. The event started in 2012 to raise awareness about pangolins. They are the world’s most poached and trafficked mammal. WPD is observed on the third Saturday of February. 

Pangolins are small, scaly, four-legged creatures. They are native to parts of Asia and Africa. When veterinarian Mark Ofua is asked to describe one, he says they’re like “baby dragons.”   

“There is a dark side to that admission,” Ofua told The Associated Press. “If people do not even know what a pangolin looks like, how do you protect them?”

Pangolins look a lot like a cross between an armadillo and an anteater. They are the only mammal fully covered in keratin scales. Those scales are made from the same material as human hair and fingernails. The scales protect them from predators. They also make pangolins a target for humans. 

Pangolins are valued for their meat and those scales. Some cultures believe the scales have healing powers. Pangolins are often killed or smuggled across borders. Between 2016 and 2024, more than 500,000 pangolins were saved in anti-trafficking raids worldwide. That's more than any other mammal species. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that more than a million pangolins have been taken from the wild over the past decade.    

Health experts say ending pangolin trafficking can protect humans, too. Pangolins can carry diseases that spread from species to species.    

Reflect:  What would motivate you to care about a species that doesn’t live near you?

Gif of a pangolin from GIPHY.