Because pangolins live such secluded lives, no population studies have been able to successfully estimate how many pangolins are left in the wild. We do know that in the last decade around 1 million pangolins have been poached (which is nearly 300 per day) and some species have been hunted to near extinction in China.
The favorite answer is An estimated 100,000 are taken from the wild every year across Africa and Asia. Their meat is considered a delicacy by some in China and Vietnam, while their scales and fetuses are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat a range of ailments from arthritis to cancer. Pangolins are also used in traditional African bush medicine.
They range from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. Four species live in Africa: Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), Giant Ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) and Temminck’s Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii).
How many Pangolins are poached each day?
We do know that in the last decade around 1 million pangolins have been poached (which is nearly 300 per day) and some species have been hunted to near extinction in China. Where do pangolins live? Four pangolin species occur across Asia: the Indian pangolin, the Chinese or Formosan pangolin, the Malayan or Sunda pangolin, and the Palawan pangolin.
Are pangolins in decline?
But given the demand for pangolin meat and scales, and the massive seizures of pangolin scales that occurred in 2019 and 2020, the population is believed to be in decline . —Are pangolins the most trafficked mammal in the world?
Another frequent query is “What is a pangolin?”.
Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters , are reclusive and nocturnal animals that roll up into a ball when threatened. They are seldom seen in the wild, and are very hard to raise in captivity. Yet, pangolins have become the most heavily trafficked wild mammal in the world.
How hard is it to raise a pangolin in captivity?
They are seldom seen in the wild, and are very hard to raise in captivity. Yet, pangolins have become the most heavily trafficked wild mammal in the world. Up to 200,000 are estimated to be taken from the wild every year across Africa and Asia.
Can we save the pangolin from extinction?
“But if everyone takes action together , we can save the species from extinction.” The pangolin is the only scaled mammal in the world, and the world’s most trafficked mammal. Thai Van Nguyen, a Vietnamese conservationist, has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his contributions to pangolin conversation in Southeast Asia.