It’s covered in overlapping scales, and walks in an unusual and distinctive way, tucking in its front paws to protect its long claws, and using its tail to help it balance.
It relies on sharp senses of smell and hearing to detect its favourite foods, ants and termites, slurping them up with its incredibly long, sticky tongue. When attacked, it protects itself by curling up into an armoured ball.
Pangolins are hunted and killed for their scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, both legally and illegally. Their meat is also considered a delicacy by some consumers in China and Vietnam.
There are eight species of pangolin, four native to Asia and four to Africa. As Asian pangolins disappear, wildlife criminals have moved on to African pangolins, killing them on an industrial scale, and sending their scales and meat to Asia.
All eight species are now at risk of extinction.
Through our undercover investigations and intelligence work, we are building up an end-to-end picture of how pangolins are trafficked from Africa to Asia, from the poachers on the ground to the shipping and customs agents, right through to the criminal kingpins who control the trade.
Going undercover can be dangerous, but our brave investigators are getting the information needed to expose the traffickers and make a difference.
Pangolin scales are often smuggled with other illegal products from endangered animals, including elephant ivory and rhino horn.
To protect our natural world, we need to challenge and disrupt these criminal networks wherever they operate.
Please help us tell world leaders to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade, and make sure the criminals involved are caught and punished. Will you join us?
Will you join us?
For too long, illegal trade in pangolins and other endangered wildlife has been a low priority for governments.
We want to see real progress, before it’s too late.
We’re calling on all governments to work together to combat the illegal wildlife trade, and protect endangered animals including pangolins, elephants and tigers.