Lack of data, reporting gaps hamper efforts to protect pangolins–report

Pangolins/KWS

A new global report has painted a grim picture for the world’s eight pangolin species, warning that they remain at high risk of extinction due to rampant overexploitation and widespread habitat loss.

 The animals, often described as shy, burrowing and nocturnal, are instantly recognisable by their tough, overlapping scales. Yet despite their unique biology, conservationists say they remain dangerously overlooked, in part because of a persistent lack of reliable population data.

 Pangolins range in size from as little as 1.6kgs to as much as 33kgs. They are insectivores, feeding mainly on ants and termites with the help of their extraordinarily long, sticky tongues. When threatened, they instinctively curl into a tight ball, using their scales — made from keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails — as a shield against predators.

 There are eight pangolin species worldwide, four of them in Asia and four in Africa. Of the African species, three can be found in Kenya: Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), which is classified as vulnerable; the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), listed as endangered; and the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), also endangered.

 The latest findings were released in a report jointly prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

 Titled Conservation Status, Trade and Enforcement Efforts for Pangolins, the study was compiled by experts from the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Pangolin Specialist Group and drew on responses from 32 CITES member states — including 15 pangolin range countries — to two detailed questionnaires issued in 2024 and 2025. Previous CITES reports, scientific literature and trade data were also reviewed to provide a comprehensive update.

 The report acknowledges that important progress has been made in understanding pangolin conservation and the scale of illegal trade. However, it also highlights glaring gaps: the absence of updated population estimates, limited management across landscapes where pangolins occur and inconsistent monitoring. These shortcomings, it warns, mean the true scope of the crisis is still not fully understood.

 “Pangolins are one of the most distinctive mammals on Earth and are among the planet’s most extraordinary creatures – ancient, gentle and irreplaceable. Today, they are under immense pressure due to exploitation and habitat loss. Protecting them is not just about saving a species, but about safeguarding the balance of our ecosystems and the wonder of nature itself. With stronger global cooperation and a united commitment— not only by governments, but across all sectors of society— we can ensure pangolins continue to thrive for generations to come,” said Dr Grethel Aguliar, director general of the IUCN.

 Pangolins were granted the highest level of international protection in 2017, when they were moved to CITES Appendix I. This listing prohibits international trade in wild specimens for commercial purposes and requires countries to report conservation actions and enforcement measures. Yet reporting has been patchy, with only a few CITES members submitting updates, making it difficult to measure progress or even establish reliable baselines on trafficking.

 Despite a sharp drop in legal trade since the 2017 ban, trafficking remains extensive and highly organised. Between 2016 and 2024, seizures of pangolin products were linked to more than half a million individual animals, intercepted across 75 countries and 178 trade routes. Pangolin scales accounted for 99 per cent of confiscated items. Enforcement agencies caution, however, that seizures represent only a small fraction of the actual volume in circulation, with countless shipments going undetected.

 Alongside international smuggling, local demand for pangolin meat and products persists in many range countries. While pangolins are legally protected in almost all of them, the continued hunting and consumption shows that laws alone are not enough.

 “On-going pangolin trafficking and population declines underscore that trade bans and policy changes alone are not enough. CITES Parties must now work with relevant local and national stakeholders, especially grassroots, community and indigenous organisations, to incentivise effective pangolin conservation. Engaging communities, Indigenous peoples and even pangolin consumers, to co-design and implement the conservation interventions are powerful bottom-up mechanisms needed to complement the top-down policy prescriptions and achieve the desired outcomes for pangolins,” said Matthew Shirley, co-chair of the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group and one of the report’s authors.

 The study recommends that countries strengthen the implementation of Resolution Conf. 17.10 (Rev. CoP19), which provides a framework for action plans, trade monitoring and targeted measures to reduce threats. Among the priorities are robust scientific population assessments, evidence-based strategies to reduce consumer demand and better reporting of illegal trade.

 The urgency of these efforts is expected to be amplified at the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress, scheduled for October 9–15 in Abu Dhabi. The gathering, one of the world’s largest conservation forums, will bring together governments, civil society, Indigenous peoples’ organisations, academia and business leaders to shape the global conservation agenda. Wildlife trade, including the plight of pangolins, is set to feature prominently in both discussions and formal motions.

 For conservationists, the message is clear: without urgent, coordinated and inclusive action, the planet’s “scaly anteaters” may vanish from the wild within a generation — taking with them not only a unique evolutionary lineage but also a vital piece of the ecosystems they help sustain.

 Instant analysis

 The new IUCN–CITES report highlights the precarious future of pangolins, often referred to as the world’s most trafficked mammals. Despite their 2017 listing under CITES Appendix I, trafficking remains rampant, driven by organised crime and persistent local demand. The lack of population data and inconsistent state reporting leave conservationists largely in the dark about the true scale of the crisis. Experts stress that laws and trade bans alone are insufficient; without local community involvement, enforcement and demand reduction, pangolins may disappear in the wild. The upcoming IUCN Congress offers a timely platform to push for coordinated, inclusive, and science-based interventions.