Pangolins: the world's most illegally traded mammal – in pictures

The endangered pangolin is being eaten out of existence before many people have even heard of it. Photographer Paul Hilton followed poachers in Indonesia to raise awareness of this gentle animal’s plight

Audio slideshow: See more of Paul Hilton’s work on the impact of deforestation on Indonesia’s wildlife

All photographs by Paul Hilton, edited by

  • Often known as scaly anteaters, pangolins are the only mammal with scales. Their closest relatives are anteaters, armadillos and sloths. These two will end up on a dinner table in Gunagzhou, southern China, one of the areas of the world where their flesh is considered a delicacy. The illegal trade in pangolins is estimated to be worth about $19bn (£12.7bn) a year.

    Pangolins are mammals with scales, of the genus <em>Manis</em> in the family <em>Manidae</em>. Their closest relatives are anteaters, armadillos and sloths. These two will end up on a dinner table in Gunagzhou, southern China, one of the areas of the world where their flesh is considered a delicacy.

  • There are four African and four Asian species of pangolin,

    of the genus Manis in the family Manidae. These pictures are all taken in Indonesia. This image shows hunting dogs, used to catch the pangolins, surrounding a tree in Kalimantan where one is trying to hide.
    There are four African and four Asian species of pangolin but these pictures are all taken in Indonesia. Hunting dogs surround a tree where a pangolin is trying to hide, in Kalimantan. The illegal trade in pangolins is estimated to be worth about $19bn (£12.7bn) a year.

  • A critically endangered pangolin curls up into a ball to resemble a giant pine cone as a poacher nears the tree.

    A critically endangered pangolin curls up into a ball as the poacher nears the tree, to resemble a giant pine cone.

  • A poacher catches a juvenile sunda pangolin in Indonesia.

    A poacher catches a juvenile sunda pangolin in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

  • Palm oil plantations, such as this one covering thousands of hectares, are causing habitat-loss for many Indonesian species, although pangolins are one of a few that have limited tolerance to palm-oil habitats. The average monthly wage for an Indonesian working full-time on a plantation is $47 and many turn to poaching because they can earn 10 times as much.

    A palm oil plantation, covering thousands of hectares. They are the main habitats for pangolins in Indonesia and there is one plantation the size of Jakarta. The average monthly wage for an Indonesian working full-time on a plantation is $47 and many poachers are plantation workers because they can earn ten times as much as they do legally by poaching.

  • Poachers across Indonesia sell critically endangered live pangolins to middlemen for $28 (£18.70) to $31 per kilo; the average size of a pangolin is six to seven kg.

    Poachers across Indonesia sell critically endangered live pangolins to middlemen for $28 (£18.70) to $31 per kilo; the average size of a pangolin is six to seven kg.

  • Researchers at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) say that over a million pangolins were caught in the last decade, which makes them the most illegally traded mammal in the world.

    Researchers at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) say that over a million pangolins were caught in the last decade, which makes them the most illegally traded mammal in the world.

  • The demand for pangolin meat, which is considered a delicacy, and scales, which are used in traditional medicine, particularly in China and Vietnam, is pushing the pangolin to extinction.

    The demand for pangolin meat and scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in China and Vietnam, is pushing the pangolin to extinction.

  • A pangolin releases a foul smell when scared, like a skunk – though it is not enough to ward off a pack of poacher’s dogs.

    A pangolin releases a foul smell when scared, like a skunk – though it is not enough to ward off a pack of poacher’s dogs.

  • Already this year 125kg of pangolin scales were intercepted by the Indonesian authorities en route to Hong Kong.

    Already this year 125kg of pangolin scales were intercepted by the Indonesian authorities en route to Hong Kong.

  • A poacher holds up the skin of a pangolin with the scales still attached.

    A poacher holds up the skin of a pangolin with the scales still attached.

  • Detail of a pangolin’s skin. Their scales are made of keratin, which is also found in human hair and nails.

    Detail of a pangolin’s skin. Their scales are made of keratin.

  • A pangolin skin and, on the right, some scales.

    A pangolin skin and, on the right, some scales.

  • A sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is one of two Asian species of pangolin listed as critically endangered on the IUNC red list.

    A sunda pangolin ( <em>Manis javanica</em> ). In 2014 the sunda pangolin was listed as critically endangered on the IUNC red list of endangered species.

  • Pangolin are a bit like a friendly, flightless dragons. Many of them have no problem being around people. To learn more about what WildAid is doing to save the pangolin and to support its work, click here.

    A pangolin just going about its business, like a friendly, flightless dragon: many of them have no problem being around people. To learn more about what WildAid is doing to save the pangolin and to support its work, click <a href="http://www.wildaid.org/tags/pangolin">here</a>.
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