Scale of pangolin slaughter revealed – millions hunted in central Africa alone

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked wild mammal and decimated Asian populations have sharply shifted the focus of exploitation to Africa

The true scale of the slaughter of pangolins in Africa has been revealed by new research showing that millions of the scaly mammals are being hunted and killed.

Pangolins were already known to be the world's most trafficked wild mammal, with at least a million being traded in the last decade to supply the demand for its meat and scales in Asian markets. Populations of Asian pangolins have been decimated, leaving the creatures highly endangered and sharply shifting the focus of exploitation to Africa's four species.