Global Pangolin Trafficking Crisis
Recent Developments
01February 2026: CITES-linked reporting summarized 2,222 seizure incidents involving an estimated 553,042 pangolins across 49 countries and at least 178 trade routes.
02Late 2025: Nigeria-focused enforcement reporting cited 42 wildlife traffickers arrested, over 25 tonnes of pangolin scales seized, and 13 convictions, with stronger penalties expected under Nigeria’s new Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill.
03February 2025: ICCWC Operation Thunder 2024 reported 2,213 seizures worldwide and 4,472 kg of pangolin scales seized in Nigeria.
Interventions
- CITES and partner enforcement networks continue monitoring pangolin trafficking routes and seizures across source and destination countries.
- Nigeria’s Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill is being used to strengthen penalties and deterrence against wildlife trafficking.
- Wildlife Justice Commission and Nigeria Customs Service operations continue targeting organized trafficking networks and high-volume scale shipments.
What Works
- Targeted intelligence-led enforcement that focuses on major routes and organized networks has produced arrests, seizures, and convictions.
- Stronger penalties and cross-border collaboration appear to improve deterrence when paired with active customs and police operations.
- Route-based disruption of key hubs such as Nigeria, Viet Nam, and connected shipping corridors is more effective than isolated seizures alone.
How to Help
- Donate to reputable wildlife-crime and pangolin-conservation organizations.
- Support NGOs working on enforcement, intelligence sharing, and demand reduction.
- Advocate for stronger anti-trafficking laws, customs inspections, and wildlife-crime prosecutions.
Make an Impact
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Raise Awareness
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Verified Organizations
Organizations Helping(14)
PSG publishes detailed reports analyzing pangolin trafficking data from seizures (e.g., over 500,000 pangolins seized 2016-2024), identifies key routes and hotspots, and advocates for stronger enforcement of CITES Appendix I protections, improved wildlife forensics, science-driven demand reduction in Asia, enhanced law enforcement collaboration, and greater involvement of local communities and indigenous peoples in range states to combat overexploitation and trafficking networks.
In Nigeria, a major trafficking hotspot, Wild Africa rescues pangolins from bushmeat markets and poachers by purchasing and rehabilitating them; operates a pangolin orphanage and animal rescue center in Lagos led by Dr. Mark Ofua; conducts hands-on anti-trafficking interventions to save individuals, rehabilitate for potential release, and disrupt local supply chains while raising awareness.
APOPO specifically trains detection dogs to identify pangolin scales and products at borders, ports, and supply chain checkpoints to intercept illegal trafficking shipments, enhancing enforcement capabilities against the wildlife trade that threatens pangolin extinction and broader biodiversity.
APC conducts camera trapping and population monitoring in the wild, supports ranger patrols to prevent poaching in key habitats, runs demand reduction campaigns targeting traditional medicine markets in Vietnam and China, rehabilitates confiscated pangolins, and engages indigenous communities to reduce reliance on wildlife trade while promoting alternative livelihoods.
