The World’s ‘Most Trafficked Mammal’ Might Soon Be Protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act
The Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing seven species of pangolin, often poached for their scales and meat, as endangered
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Federal officials have proposed declaring the pangolin endangered, a move that would help protect what is often considered the “most trafficked mammal” in the world.
Pangolins are adorable, but they’re not exactly cuddly creatures. They’re covered in protective scales that are sought after in traditional Chinese medicine, making them a target of wildlife trafficking. Their meat is also considered a delicacy in parts of the world. Up to 2.7 million African pangolins are killed by poachers every year, mainly because of demand from Asian markets. Pangolin products also make their way to the United States—border officials seized 76 shipments that included pangolin parts between 2016 and 2020.
Now, in a bid to increase protections for the mammals, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking to list four Asian pangolin species (the Chinese, Indian, Sunda and Philippine pangolins) and three African species (the white-bellied, black-bellied and giant pangolins) under the Endangered Species Act.
“This proposed listing reaffirms the Service’s commitment to protecting these magnificent species and ensures the United States does not contribute to their continued decline,” the USFWS writes in a statement.
The Temminck’s ground pangolin, an African species, has been listed as endangered in the U.S. since the 1970s, so this proposal would mean all eight recognized pangolin species would be protected under the law. Scientists have suggested that two additional pangolin species might exist, though more research is still needed to confirm this.
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Pangolins are nocturnal animals that curl into a tight ball to protect themselves from predators. But their “slow and peaceful demeanor” leaves them vulnerable to poachers, per the statement, who can quickly grab them when they’re rolled up defensively. Plus, the animals have difficulty seeing traps laid for them because of their poor eyesight.
Poaching isn’t the only threat pangolins face. Their populations have also declined because of habitat loss and poor genetic health, per the USFWS, and all species are facing some level of decline. The Sunda, Philippine and Chinese pangolins are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Climate change might also lead to decreased suitable habitat and lower availability of food sources, such as insects.
The proposed listings would allow additional resources for law enforcement to combat trafficking and further restrict trade and imports of pangolin parts into the U.S. While the international trade of pangolins is already prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), poaching has continued to threaten the animal. Profits from the pangolin trade also fuel drug and arms trafficking, according to the USFWS statement.
The move has been welcomed by conservationists and wildlife activists. “I’m delighted the United States is doing its part to save these adorably odd creatures,” says Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement. “Pangolins are on the razor’s edge of extinction, and we need to completely shut down any U.S. market for their scales. There’s no good reason for anybody to ingest any part of a pangolin.”
Protections for the animal are “long overdue,” says Nicholas Arrivo, an attorney for the nonprofit Humane World for Animals, to Dino Grandoni at the Washington Post. “They deserve to be protected from commercial exploitation, and this is a sign that the U.S. is doing its part.” Advocates from national and international conservation groups have petitioned officials to list the pangolin for years, reports Alexa St. John at the Associated Press.
The proposal comes as the Trump administration is seeking to significantly limit the Endangered Species Act’s power to protect habitats. Once the proposal is finalized, the pangolin would become one of the first animals to be added to the endangered species list since the president took office in January, reports the Washington Post.
Next, the proposal will be subject to a 60-day public comment period, after which the USFWS will review feedback and publish a final ruling.
