Scaling up Survival: Protecting Pangolins from Exploitation and Extinction

Pangolins, often referred to as scaly anteaters or ‘tenggiling’ here in Malaysia, are fascinating creatures renowned for their unique armour-like scales and elusive nature. Despite their ecological importance in pest control, pangolins face dire threats from the illegal wildlife trade - trafficked for their scales and meat - and have the unfortunate distinction of being the most trafficked mammals globally. Facing extinction due to unsustainable exploitation, conservation efforts are crucial to safeguard pangolins and maintain ecosystem balance, as their decline disrupts ecosystems, risking biodiversity loss and compromising ecosystems' resilience. We celebrated World Pangolin Day earlier in February, and in conjunction with that, we catch up with Kanitha Krishnasamy (Director, Traffic Southeast Asia) and Elizabeth John (Senior Communications Officer, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia) to discuss what more can be done to protect these precious creatures.

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