Asian Pangolin (Manis javanica)
Status: Endangered

The Asian Pangolin is a reclusive nocturnal scaly anteater found in forests across Southeast Asia, but numbers are declining as it is poached and trafficked in high volumes to supply demand for its flesh and scales from restaurants and traditional medicine makers. Pangolins help control the numbers of ants and termites in the forest.

The long sharp claws that help pangolins dig into ant hills and termite mounds to find food in the wild become a liability when they are packed together in sacks by wildlife smugglers. The animals' efforts to escape often only result in them blinding each other.

Pangolins are only kept alive by smugglers as a way to maintain freshness, before they are sold to restaurants. Trade in pangolins is completely banned under international law.