What is the world’s most illegally traded wild mammal?

Pangolins are the most illegally traded wild mammals on the planet. They are poached for their meat and their scales which Traditional Asian Medicine practitioners use. According to the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, a pangolin is snatched from the wild every five minutes._x000D_

Pangolin news fact:

_x000D_On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Thai Van Nguyen, a Vietnamese conservationist, was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work to protect the world’s only truly scaly mammals. Nguyen founded NGO Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, established two pangolin rehabilitation centers, and an anti-poaching unit. He trains government rangers in wildlife conservation, animal identification, GPS skills, and drone technology. His partnerships with the government, scientists, veterinarians, and fellow activists helped rescue over 1,500 pangolins since he founded Save Vietnam’s Wildlife in 2014.