The pangolin is the most trafficked animal in the world, although their species is well protected. More than any other mammal on Earth, these creatures continue to be killed and trafficked, even with the protection of NGOs and the prohibition of commercial exchanges around the world.
What is a pangolin?
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You pangolins are mammals that live in Asia and Africa. They have tough scales and curl up into a ball when threatened.
Some people refer to them as “scaly anteaters” because of their tiny heads, long snouts, and even longer tongues for sucking ants out of anthills.
Since certain pangolins live in trees, they can utilize their tail as a fifth limb that is strong enough to support their entire body weight. Pangolins' tails are clad in the same scale armor as the rest of their bodies.
They live alone, are very sociable during mating and are active at night. Furthermore, like a skunk, pangolins give off a foul odor.
There are eight pangolin species in the world, four are Asian and four are African. Moreover, it is possible to say that fossil evidence points to Europe as the continent of origin for this animal.
Why are they trafficked?
All eight species are designated as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered on the United Nations Red List.IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which indicates that they are all in risk of extinction.
Particularly in China and Vietnam, pangolins are killed for their meat, for use in traditional medicine and as fashion items. Since pangolin trafficking has become a massive (and illegal) industry, the pangolin population is decreasing significantly across Asia.
To gain access to pangolin scales, hunters hunt them down, beat them, smoke them, and then submerge them in boiling water.
