Pangolins are currently the most trafficked mammals in the world, primarily hunted for their unique keratin scales. While these scales serve as a near-impenetrable defense against natural predators like lions, they offer no protection against human poachers.
In fact, between 2016 and 2024, over half a million pangolins were seized in anti-trafficking operations, driven largely by a high demand in Asia where the scales are falsely believed to possess medicinal properties and their meat, consumed as a delicacy.
AP News interviewed Wild Africa’s West Africa Representative Dr Mark Ofua on World Pangolin Day to find out more about the plight of these animals.
Reporting that despite their critical status, pangolins often lack the public recognition and conservation funding afforded to “charismatic megafauna” like elephants or rhinos. All eight species—four in Africa and four in Asia—face a significant risk of extinction.
