Our planet's wildlife is being decimated
Pangolins, commonly referred to as the most trafficked mammal in the world, face a dire plight. Their primary defense mechanism is to roll into a ball so that their scales protect them, but unfortunately, that defense doesn’t work against their biggest predator: humans. These unique creatures have become a highly prized commodity, illegally trapped, killed, and trafficked by organised crime networks between Africa and Asia. While a proportion of the demand for pangolins is for their meat, the greatest value lies in their scales, used as an ingredient in traditional medicine. Sadly, this demand is driving transnational smuggling of pangolin scales to the extent we see today, with the supply to illicit markets undoubtedly increasing.
Pangolin Facts
- There are eight different species of pangolins living in Asia and Africa
- Pangolins predate almost exclusively on ants and termites
- All eight pangolin species are protected under international law, and three species are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Due to the decline in Asian pangolin populations, African pangolins are increasingly targeted for intercontinental trade to Asian markets
- Pangolins are trafficked to create pangolin wine, bushmeat, jewellery, and traditional medicine
How we fight wildlife crime
The Wildlife Justice Commission works to disrupt wildlife, fisheries, and timber crime, dismantle criminal networks, encourage the growth of political will to combat these problems, and build tomorrow’s sustainable solutions. To protect vulnerable species from exploitation, we:
- conduct intelligence-led investigations
- bridge the intelligence gap with intelligence analysis
- share intelligence and investigative findings with governments and stakeholders
- build sustainable solutions through training and mentoring
- urge governments to act
Donations made to the Wildlife Justice Commission are tax-deductible under Dutch law, as we have ANBI status. EU citizens can also make their contributions tax-deductible, and WJC is eligible to receive gifts from donor advised funds. See our Donate section for more details on how you can help us to fight transnational organised wildlife crime. Donating from the USA? Click here.
