Pangolins
Pangolins are the most bizarre mammals I have ever seen. They have beautifully armored bodies with large, overlapping scales, like roof tiles! And those scales are rock hard. Useful for the pangolin, because when in danger it rolls up and is untouchable from enemies. At least, except for one enemy: humans.
Worth gold. Pangolins are the most poached mammals in the world. They may not capture the imagination as much as tigers or elephants. But make no mistake, pangolins are worth their weight in gold to poachers. The scales are used to cure arthritis and cancer, to improve lactation, to improve circulation, to name a few things. There is no scientific basis for it. The claws and blood of pangolins are also sought-after medicines in some parts of the world.
Secreted. Researchers guess that between 40,000 and 80,000 pangolins are killed each year for illegal sale. No one knows the exact numbers, because of course the poachers try to keep their trade as secret as possible. Sometimes large numbers of pangolin scales are intercepted and seized at customs, but of course for those pangolins it is too late by then.
Endangered. No one knows how many pangolins still live in the wild. What we do know is that numbers are declining rapidly. Before you know it, this special, super cool animal will be extinct. We have to do something!
