Pangolins, known as the forest’s guardians, play a crucial role in preserving the delicate balance of ecosystems by safeguarding forests from termite destruction. With four species in Asia and four in Africa, these unique creatures are the only scaly mammals on Earth. Despite their small size, an adult pangolin weighing just 6.6 pounds can consume over 0.66 pounds of termites in a single meal. Their insatiable appetite allows them to protect an area as large as 31 football fields or 41 acres from termite devastation. Approximately 20 percent of a pangolin’s body weight is composed of its solid scales, which act as a formidable weapon. When threatened, pangolins swiftly curl up into a tight ball, using their overlapping scales as tough armor and concealing their faces under their tail.
Regrettably, this natural defense mechanism also makes pangolins vulnerable to poaching. Despite having survived for thousands of years through natural changes, these incredible creatures are now facing the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. Many Asian cultures mistakenly believe that their scales possess medicinal and magical properties, leading to a significant demand for them on the black market. Shockingly, over the past decade, more than 1 million pangolins have been ruthlessly killed for the illegal wildlife trade, equating to 11 pangolins per hour. All eight pangolin species are categorized as threatened with extinction under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Recognizing the urgent need for action to protect pangolins, The Nature Conservancy is collaborating with local and international partners to raise public awareness about the importance of saving pangolins and combating the illegal trade. In 2016, we joined forces with WildAid to create a public service announcement featuring Chinese celebrity Angelababy, and we have also contributed to the production of another PSA featuring Jackie Chan.