Overview

• The proposal would extend ESA protections to Chinese, Indian, Sunda and Philippine pangolins in Asia and to white-bellied, black-bellied and giant pangolins in Africa.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has set a 60-day public comment window on the listing, which closes on August 18.
• Once finalized, the endangered designation would ban most commercial imports of pangolin parts while permitting exceptions for scientific and conservation purposes.
• Wildlife experts warn that pangolin populations have declined sharply due to illegal trafficking driven by demand for scales and meat, habitat loss and low genetic diversity.
• Enforcement officials note that illicit pangolin trade funds serious crimes, with recent seizures of multiple tons of scales in Nigeria and Indonesia highlighting a global smuggling network.