S4, E9 Pangolins – The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal

Pangolins are toothless, gentle creatures that feed on insects using their tongue. Unfortunately for pangolins, their protective scales are made of keratin, just like the rhinos’ horns. Used in traditional Chinese medicine, pangolin scales command a black market price of $6000 a kilogram. Up to 2.5 million pangolins are trafficked to Asia every year, where their meat is also considered a delicacy. In Kenya, pangolins can be found in the Massai Mara, Tsavo, and Samburu reserves. But they won’t be around much longer if nothing is done to save the world’s most trafficked mammal. A film by Samuel Waweru & Humphrey Odhiambo. GNV-048