Source: AP News
Pangolins, shy and nocturnal mammals covered in protective keratin scales, are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Conservationists are highlighting their plight on World Pangolin Day, noting that more than half a million were seized in anti-trafficking operations between 2016 and 2024, with over one million estimated taken from the wild in the past decade. The illegal trade is driven largely by demand for their scales in traditional medicine in parts of Asia, despite no proven health benefits, and also for their meat, considered a delicacy in some regions.
All eight pangolin species (four in Africa and four in Asia) face high to extremely high extinction risk. Though their scales protect them from natural predators, they offer no defense against poachers. In Nigeria, a trafficking hotspot, conservationists are working to raise awareness through rescue efforts and public campaigns, stressing that protecting pangolins begins with helping people recognize and value them.
Read the full story HERE: https://apnews.com/article/pangolin-wildlife-conservation-trafficking-f8fb8772dc8527bd677f2f1d3b9334f7