Five interesting facts about Pangolins

Pangolins have existed for approximately 80 million years but most people haven’t heard of them. They even hold a world record but sadly, it’s not a positive one: Did you know that pangolins hold the record for the most trafficked mammal in the world?

The pangolin might look like the offspring of a pinecone and artichoke but it needs our love, now more than ever. It’s time to get to know these uniquely amazing animals.

A diet of ants - Bon appétit!

Pangolins are also known as “scaly anteaters” because…you guessed it, they feed on ants. They are insectivorous, so their diet also includes termites, larvae and other small insects.

Using their long snouts and tongues, they can feed on up to 70 million insects every year.

Thick skinned

Pangolin scales are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up our own hair and nails and many animals’ claws. The scales cover almost their whole body (except their underside) and they make up roughly 20% of their body weight.

Fight, flight, or roll?

Their name, “pangolin”, is derived from the Malay word “pengguling”, which loosely translates to “something that rolls up” – and indeed, they do! To defend themselves when feeling threatened, the small mammals roll up in a ball, similarly to hedgehogs and armadillos.

Lots of distant cousins

There are eight species of pangolins (four Asian and four African), and they can be found in 51 different countries, living in trees or burrows.

One more fact

The biggest threat to pangolins is humans. These animals are hunted and killed for their scales to be sold on the black market, for use in Traditional Asian Medicine. All eight species of pangolins are featured on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, on par with rhinos and tigers. Even environmental and animal advocate David Attenborough named them in his list of top 10 endangered animals.

What World Animal Protection is doing to save pangolins

The commercial trade of pangolin parts is forbidden under CITES as of 2016. Despite such restrictions, the demand for these parts continues to rise, putting worldwide pangolin populations at risk.

To combat this global trade and protect the world’s pangolins, we’re calling for:

• Stronger enforcement of national and international laws 
• Removal of pangolins from the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China – the traditional medicine handbook for the industry
• Investment in and promotion of herbal and synthetic alternatives
• Combined and coordinated efforts by governments, NGOs and the traditional Asian medicine community to eliminate consumer demand for pangolin-basedmedicines, particularly in China and Vietnam
• Support for alternative livelihoods, alleviation of poverty and education programs within rural communities wherever pangolins are found globally, to stop their slaughter.

Pangolins are on the brink of extinction. Possibly even more distressing is the cruelty that is often inflicted on these gentle creatures before they are killed.

Further reading and how you can help: