Sunda Pangolin

So few of these mysterious animals remain that scientists have been unable to estimate their population. Sunda pangolins are one of the world's most trafficked mammals. Over a million pangolins worldwide are estimated to have been poached from the wild since 2000, and they are predicted to decline by an additional 80% within the next two decades if they are not protected. GC is working across five national parks and World Heritage Sites in Asia to help save this critically endangered species.

Common Name:

Sunda Pangolin or Malayan Pangolin

Scientific Name:

Manis javanica

IUCN Red List Status:

Critically Endangered

Population:

Virtually no population estimates – regional or global (IUCN Red List 2019)

Continent:

Asia

Habitats:

Secondary forest, cultivated areas (including gardens and plantations), hollows either in or at the base of trees

Weight: 

5-6.8kg (11 to 15 pounds)

Size:

Up to 55cm (22 inches) long from head to tail

Threats:

Poaching and habitat loss

GC Sites:

DaMaI World Heritage Site, Borneo, Malaysia

Cardamom National Park, Cambodia

Leuser Ecosystem, Sumatra, Indonesia

Thap Lan World Heritage Site, Thailand

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Myanmar

Partners:

DaMaI World Heritage Site: Sabah Environmental Trust, Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Foundation, Sabah Department of Wildlife 

Cardamom National Park: Wildlife Alliance, Cambodia Ministry of Environment, Cambodia Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Leuser Ecosystem: Forum Konservasi Leuser, Rainforest Action Network, HaKa, Wildlife Conservation Society

Thap Lan World Heritage Site: WCS Thailand, Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park: Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park Authorities, Myanmar Forest Department, Sagaing Provincial Government

Sunda pangolin range map. Courtesy of IUCN.

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Sunda pangolins are one of the world's most trafficked mammals. Over a million pangolins worldwide are estimated to have been poached from the wild since 2000, and they are predicted to decline by an additional 80% within the next two decades if they are not protected. 

Since 2017, Global Conservation has been helping to protect Malaysia’s DaMaI World Heritage Site, which holds one of the last major intact primary forests left in Asia. DaMaI is home to an abundance of animals including the Sunda pangolin. Global Conservation’s work to protect the site means protecting the Sunda pangolin and its home. 

The Sunda pangolin can also be found at our project sites in Cardamom National Park, Cambodia; the Leuser Ecosystem, Indonesia; Thap Lan World Heritage Site, Thailand; and Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Myanmar.

Did you know? Infant pangolins ride on their mothers’ tails for around three months.

Threats and Habitat Loss

More than a million pangolins (of all eight species in Africa and Asia) have been estimated to be killed by poachers since the year 2000. In 2019 alone, over 80 tonnes of pangolin scales were confiscated. Their scales are used for medicine believed to treat conditions from acne to cancer while their meat is served as a luxury dish in restaurants throughout Southeast Asia and China. 

The Sunda pangolin’s home in DaMal has been subject to deforestation and illegal hunting for the pangolin and other wildlife. Both deforestation and hunting have rapidly increased over the past 10 years and, as poaching pressure builds on the last remaining wildlife populations, more of the Sunda pangolin's habitat will be destroyed. 

Last year alone, over 2,000 pounds of frozen pangolin was found in a single region of Malaysia, a terrible sign that wildlife poaching is at epidemic levels. Simultaneously, the last old growth forests are being destroyed across Malaysia.

“Ending the illegal trade in pangolins could contribute to mitigating potential health risks associated with consuming wildlife.” 

- Dr. Dan Challender, Chair of the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group

Conservation Action

Initial Global Conservation funding, training and oversight has been critical to ensure quality training and equipment for park rangers to increase targeted patrols that cover 80% of core wildlife areas in DaMaI, including the homes of the Sunda pangolin.

To make that happen, Global Conservation has funded Global Park Defense deployments to help ranger teams with daily intrusions by illegal commercial hunters, a few local and many from outside, some of which hunt Sunda pangolins. 

Working with the Sabah state government and Malaysian national government, Global Conservation will move the nomination process forward to establish DaMaI as a UNESCO World Heritage Park while improving planning for protection, conservation and sustainable tourism that will help further protect this species and their home. 

Did you know? Pangolins are the only mammals with scales made of keratin (the same material as our hair and fingernails), and as such are often confused with reptiles.

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