The scales are in high demand for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Although pangolins are a protected species in China, there is a thriving black market for pangolin meat and especially for scales, which account for 20 percent of body weight. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world - poachers kill as many as 2.7 million African pangolins every year. Poachers simply pick pangolins up and drop them into a bag. Their armor-plated scales can cut and inflict serious wounds on a lion, leopard, or hyena - but are no match for a weapon-wielding human.
Poaching also is a dire threat: Pangolins are slow-moving and will roll themselves into a ball if they feel threatened - making them easy targets. In areas of accelerated human population growth, habitat loss is a grave threat for pangolins. All eight species, four found on each continent, are decreasing in population and are at risk of extinction.Pangolins have seen a rapid decline in their population in the last several decades. The pangolin, a shy and scaly animal, resembles an armadillo and is found in both Africa and Asia. The world’s most trafficked mammal may vanish before many people have ever heard of it. She is passionate about using storytelling and compelling content to convey the value and s. She oversees the development of articles and other content for AWF print marketing products such as the annual report. Jacqueline Conciatore is African Wildlife Foundation's Writer & Editorial Manager.
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