When we think of persecuted and trafficked wild animals, our mind immediately goes to endangered animals. These endangered animals include Tigers, Elephants and Rhinos. It is these endangered animals that get the most publicity and media attention.
There's nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with endangered animals getting media attention and publicity - it is something which is needed. However, there are many animals which are threatened by human activities which don't get the same attention as the most well-known endangered animals: such as Pangolins.
Pangolins are the worlds most trafficked wild animal.
As the worlds most trafficked wild animal, Pangolins are at risk of becoming extinct. There are eight species of Pangolin in the wild today. These species of Pangolin are: (1) the Indian Pangolin, (2) the Phillipine Pangolin, (3) the Long-Tailed Pangolin, (4) the Giant Pangolin, (5) the Sunda Pangolin, (6) the Chinese Pangolin, and, (7) the Ground Pangolin. Four of these Pangolin species come from Asia, and the other four Pangolin species come from Africa.
All of the African Pangolin species are classed as 'vulnerable'. This means that all of the African Pangolin species are vulnerable to extinction. The African Pangolin species are: (1) the Tree Pangolin, (2) the Ground Pangolin, (3) the Long-Tailed Pangolin, and (4) the Cape Pangolin. These African Pangolins are vulnerable to extinction, but, their Asian cousins fare a lot worse.
The Asian Pangolin species are all either endangered, or critically endangered, making them more vulnerable to extinction than African Pangolins. Two of the Asian Pangolin species are endangered, and the other two Asian Pangolin species are critically endangered. The two endangered Asian Pangolins are: (1) the Philippine Pangolin, and (2) the Indian Pangolin). And, the two critically endangered Asian Pangolins are: (1) the Chinese Pangolin, and (2) the Sunda Pangolin. The Asian Pangolins are more at risk of extinction - particuarly the Chinese Pangolins, and the Sunda Pangolins.
The Chinese Pangolin is not only critically endangered, these wild animals are also decreasing. Chinese Pangolins have declined a massive 94% since the 1960s. As of 2000, there was as low as 25,000 Chinese Pangolins left in the wild. However, very little information regarding their population exists, due to their elusive and nocturnal nature. They are, however, threatened with habitat destruction, wildlife trafficking and hunting. Chinese Pangolins live in forests, grasslands and shrublands. It is a destruction of these habitats which is partly the cause of this species decline.
Sunda Pangolins are critically endangered, like the Chinese Pangolin. They are found in several countries across Asia. Sunda Pangolins are found in: Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Unfortunatley though, Sunda Pangolins are also decreasing. They are at risk due to their forest and shurbland habitats being destroyed. But, they are mainly declining due to the illegal wildlife trade. In just 15 years, the Sunda Pangolin population has declined by 50% because of the illegal wildlife trade, in which these animals sufferer because of wildlife trafficking.
The Indian Pangolin is an endangered wild animal. However, the population of these endangered animals is not known. Like with other Pangolins, the Indian Pangolin is at risk due to the illegal wildlife trade: trafficking and poaching is the main reason why these endangered animals have been declining. The Indian Pangolin is decreasing. They are also decreasing due to being the victim of road traffic accidents, and due to their habitats being destroyed. Their habitat is a mixture of forests, shrublands, savanna and grasslands. Despite their name, the Indian Pangolin is not only found in India; these endangered animals are also found in Bangladesh, Mayanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Philippine Pangolin are also endangered animals. Sadly, the Philippine Pangolin is also decreasing. Little is known about the Philippine Pangolin, or their population. They are found on just a few islands in the Philippines. Their habitat is a mixture of shrublands and grasslands. And, these endangered animals are also at risk due to their habitats being destroyed, and mostly, they are at risk because of the illegal wildlife trade, where they are trafficked.
The Tree Pangolin is not an Asian Pangolin like the previous four Pangolins we have talked about. Instead, the Tree Pangolin is an African Pangolin. All of the African Pangolins on our list, are vulnerable species, rather than endangered species. Tree Pangolins are also known as White-Bellied Pangolins. They are decreasing in numbers. These White-Bellied Pangolins can be found in several countries across Africa, including: Congo, Ghana, Cameroon and Guinea - they are found in several countries off the coast of Western Africa. Their habitat is forests. One of the main threats to their existence, is a destruction of their forest home. They are also threatened with climate change and poaching.
The Giant Ground Pangolin is also found off the West coast of Africa. Their range isn't as vast though, they live in fewer countries. The can be found in countries such as: Congo and Guinea. These animals are also vulnerable to extinction, and are also decreasing. The Giant Ground Pangolin are threatened with habitat erosion due to climate change, and they face poaching by humans. The Giant Ground Pangolin is found in two habitats: forests and Savannas.
The Ground Pangolin (also known as the Temminck Pangolin) is another which is vulnerable to extinction. They are also declining in numbers; threatened with poaching, climate change and they are threatened with being the victims of road accidents. The Ground Pangolin is found in central, Southern and Eastern Africa.
The Long-Tailed Pangolin (also known as the Black-Bellied Pangolin), is the last of the Pangolin species on our list. The Long-Tailed Pangolin is found in countries in Western Africa, such as Cameroon. They are a vunerable species, and are decreasing in numbers. They have many threats, including: climate change, habitat erosion, and poaching. They are found mostly in forests.