To save pangolins, we need to change the narrative (commentary)

Despite being the world’s most heavily trafficked mammal — more than elephants, rhinos and tigers combined — pangolins remain virtually unknown to the public. These shy, scaly creatures are primarily hunted for their scales, which are frequently used in traditional Asian medicines. Despite international protections, illegal trafficking of these animals continues, and with it, the quiet collapse of wild pangolin populations across Asia and Africa. Part of conservationists’ challenge is increasing the visibility of the threats these species face. Pangolins don’t have the public profile of elephants or lions and aren’t instantly recognizable to the general public. They’re not often visible to safari tourists, rarely show up in children’s books or blockbuster nature documentaries, and, until r