All eight recognised pangolin species remain at high risk of extinctions due to over exploitation and habitat loss. A new report commissioned by the CITES Secretariat and prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides this information. Global trade bans are in place but there is an absence of updated population estimates. Additionally, weak on-the-ground management complicates the situation. As a result, the true scale of the crisis is still unclear.
The report, “Conservation Status, Trade and Enforcement Efforts for Pangolins,” was compiled by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Pangolin Specialist Group. The group drew on data submitted by 32 CITES Parties. This includes 15 pangolin range states. The report also utilized scientific literature, trade records, and previous CITES reports.
The findings provide key insights into illegal trade and current conservation measures. However, experts warn about the lack of population monitoring and targeted interventions. This shortfall highlights the urgent need for more robust action. Local communities and Indigenous peoples are identified as vital partners in strengthening pangolin protection.
THE TRADE
Between 2016 and 2024, seizures of pangolin products involved more than half a million animals across 75 countries and 178 trade routes. Scales accounted for 99 percent of confiscated parts. However, seizures reflect only a fraction of overall trafficking, which remains extensive and highly organised despite the Appendix I trade ban introduced in 2017.
Local demand for pangolin meat and products also persists in most range countries, despite strong legal protection. The report calls for CITES Parties to go beyond policy measures. They should engage communities, consumers, and supply chain actors. This engagement is essential to design and implement effective conservation strategies.
“The ongoing trafficking and population declines show that bans and policies are not enough. We need bottom-up conservation designed with local communities and Indigenous peoples at the forefront,” said Dr Matthew Shirley, Co-Chair of the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group.
Recommendations include national pangolin action plans under CITES Resolution Conf. 17.10, prioritising population assessments, demand-reduction strategies, and stronger trade reporting. Coordinated action from forest gate to consumer markets will be essential to halt declines.
The release of the report comes less than two months before the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (9–15 October), where wildlife trade will be among the key issues debated by governments, civil society, Indigenous organisations, academia, and business leaders.
