At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Sunda pangolin is a scale-covered, ant- and termite-eating mammal of Southeast Asia. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
When threatened it rolls into an armoured ball, but this is no defence against human hunters.
Range & habitat
Forests of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Poaching and trafficking for scales and meat
- Habitat loss
Why it matters
Pangolins are among the most heavily trafficked wild mammals in the world, making the Sunda pangolin a symbol of the global fight against the illegal wildlife trade.
Pangolins are widely reported among the most trafficked wild mammals.
Sources
Sources for Sunda Pangolin
- IUCN Red List — look up Sunda Pangolin (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are pangolins so heavily trafficked?
They are hunted for their keratin scales, used in some traditional medicines, and for their meat. This demand has made pangolins among the most trafficked wild mammals on Earth.
Why is the Sunda pangolin Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite intense poaching and trafficking together with habitat loss. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: