The armored mammals are trafficked for their scales and meat.
Pangolins — strangely adorable, scale-covered creatures believed to be the most heavily trafficked mammal in the world — should receive protection under the Endangered Species Act, federal officials said Monday.
The animals are native to Africa and Asia, but the Endangered Species Act requires the government to protect endangered species whether they live in the United States or abroad.
The proposal to bring pangolins under U.S. protection comes in response to years-old legal action by conservationists, and despite recent moves under President Trump to weaken the Endangered Species Act and other environmental policies.
For foreign animals, Endangered Species Act benefits include prohibitions on import and export, hunting and commercial activity. Protection can also open the door to financial assistance to develop and manage conservation programs in the species’ native countries, although that has been thrown into question recently by funding freezes and cuts under the Trump administration.
“The proceeds from the illicit sale of pangolins and other imperiled species often fund serious crimes, including drug and arms trafficking,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wrote in a news release. “This proposed listing reaffirms the service’s commitment to protecting these magnificent species and ensures the United States does not contribute to their continued decline.”
Pangolins are so threatened that it would be legally indefensible to deny their inclusion, conservationists said.
