Pangolin: Bringing Awareness To The Most Critically Endangered Mammal Species

In Disney’s newest film The Jungle Book, there is a quick glimpse at the Pangolin. A timid artichoke-looking animal, which has quickly become #1 on the world’s most critically endangered mammal list. Learn more about how you can take action to raise awareness about this endangered species.

Rare Cape Pangolin

During my trip to LA for the #JungleBookEvent I sat in a phone conference with Jeffrey Flocken. During the phone conference with Jeffrey Flocken, who is the North American Regional Director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare where he leads the organization’s team of legislative professionals in the US and Canada advocating for global.

National, and local policy initiatives on behalf of wildlife conservation and animal welfare. We spoke to him about these critically endangered species and the most illegally traded mammal in the world.

Did you know that these cute artichoke-looking creatures were recently featured in Disney’s Jungle Book movie? In the movie, you get a quick glimpse at this timid animal that has become #1 on the world’s most critically endangered mammal list.

Pangolin

There isn’t much that the organization has been able to gather about these almost hard-to-find animals. Things the organization has been able to learn about these fragile animals is that are unable to survive in their habitats. They are unable to breed and will sadly pass away if captured and held in a habitat.

All eight species are considered “Threatened with Extinction” primarily due to international trade by the IUCN. Two are “Critically Endangered,” two are “Endangered,” and four are “Vulnerable.”

Bringing Awareness To The Most Critically Endangered Mammal Species

Why are these animals endangered? Pangolins are prized in China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries for their scales, which are widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and for their meat, which is considered a delicacy. As pangolin populations dropped in consumer countries, dealers started sourcing pangolins from other areas including Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and now Africa.

Why are Pangolins endangered?

Why are Pangolins endangered? Pangolins are smuggled live across land routes by car and bus. The U.S. is a consumer country; U.S. government data shows that over the last decade, over 26,000 products made with pangolin derivatives were seized by the federal government on their way into the U.S.

A Rare Cape Pangolin, Foraging in the bush near Otjiwarongo walks on her hind legs

It is such a hard task to have when you are unable to rescue the animal and help them breed indoors where it can be safe. Since this has proved to be impossible researchers are working on ways to help these animals out by fighting legally for them.

In 2015, IFAW and a coalition of NGOs petitioned the U.S. government to list all eight pangolin species as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

What is happening now?

There is a growing consensus among governments, scientists, and NGOs to list all eight pangolin species under Appendix I of CITES, the highest form of international protection from trade. The U.S. and Vietnam jointly hosted the First Pangolin Range States workshop in 2015 with 29 pangolin range countries.

At the workshop, it was determined that both range and consumer countries need to increase enforcement and reduce demand.

Spread The Awareness

If you would like to join in on spreading the awareness of these loving Pangolins and help fight to keep these fragile animals alive. You can visit the International Fund for Animal Welfare Website and find out more information about the Pangolin as well as other animals that may need your help.