Uganda among African hotspots in illegal pangolin trade

__________________

As the world observed World Pangolin Day on February 20, 2026, Uganda, along with Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria, emerged as critical links in the illegal global trade of pangolins, the world's most trafficked wild mammal.

The trade, largely driven by demand for pangolin scales and meat, continues to threaten the species, pushing populations toward rapid decline and jeopardising ecosystems across Africa.

World Animal Protection, a global conservation organisation, yet again raised the alarm that organised trafficking networks operating across East, West, and Central Africa are intensifying pressure on already vulnerable pangolin populations.

The impact of these trafficking operations extends beyond wildlife concerns. They also pose significant public health risks for local communities and contribute to the destabilisation of entire ecosystems.

The scale of the crisis is staggering. According to global seizure records and trade monitoring data, between 2000 and 2013, more than one million pangolins were killed and trafficked.

Between 2010 and 2015, authorities recorded over 1,270 seizures across 67 countries, resulting in the confiscation of an estimated 120 tonnes of pangolin body parts, including more than 46,000 individual carcasses.

Despite the illegal trade being well-documented, the pressure on pangolins remains relentless.

All eight species of pangolins, four native to Asia and four to Africa, are listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits international commercial trade.

Still, the demand persists, primarily driven by unsubstantiated beliefs in the medicinal properties of pangolin scales.

Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection, explained, “Pangolins are being hunted, trafficked, and exploited at alarming levels. But there is hope. If we strengthen enforcement, empower communities, and reduce consumer demand for pangolin meat and scales, we can turn the tide.”

Although pangolin scales have no scientifically proven medicinal value, they remain a key commodity in transnational trafficking operations. Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria have increasingly been identified as source and transit points for pangolin parts, feeding a global market primarily in Asia.

The ecological consequences of this trade are severe. Pangolins play a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by consuming thousands of ants and termites each day, keeping insect populations in check. Their slow reproduction rate, however, makes recovery difficult once populations begin to decline.

World Pangolin Day, celebrated each year on the third Saturday of February, serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect these unique creatures.

In recognition of the 2026 observance, World Animal Protection launched a long-term initiative aimed at addressing the pangolin crisis.

The programme focuses on three key pillars: generating scientific evidence to inform policy, supporting community-led pangolin protection efforts, and engaging with consumer countries in Asia to strengthen enforcement and reduce demand for pangolin products.