Pangolin Protection: Cameroon Cracks Down on Pangolin Trafficking as this Endangered species faces extinction.

November 17, 2025
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By Raymond Dingana

On October 22, 2025, two men appeared before the Tibati court after wildlife officials and the police arrested them for attempting to sell nearly 90 kilograms of giant pangolin scales. The arrest, made on July 3, 2025, followed a coordinated crackdown supported by the Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA).

Pangolins are facing extinction, prompting action from the Cameroonian government. The Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection, and Forestry, along with the Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA), is working to protect pangolins.

The suspects arrested near a bus station are currently undergoing trial in Tibati prison. Sources say they are part of a larger wildlife trafficking network involving poachers from surrounding villages.This network includes hunters, bike riders, and public transport drivers, who sell the scales in towns like Yoko, Ntui, Yaounde, Douala, and Ngaoundere.

Cameroon’s Law No. 2024/008, established on July 24, 2024, shows the country’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and fighting against poaching.According to this regulation, having pangolin scales is equivalent to killing a pangolin, which carries fines of 20 to 50 million francs CFA and/or 15 to 20 years in jail.

Photo Credit: LAGA

The Urgent Fight Against Pangolin Trafficking

The most trafficked mammal in the world is the pangolin. They are considered an endangered species because of the strong demand for their meat and scales. Pangolins are hunted for their flesh, which is prized in nations like Vietnam and China. Pangolin scales are also used to produce accessories, leather boots, and shoes.

In certain Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, pangolin meat is considered a luxury dish and a status symbol. Mostly in the Americas, their skins are used to make leather items including belts, boots, and purses.

Furthermore, many communities use pangolin products in traditional medicine to treat various ailments like rheumatism, asthma, skin diseases, and poor blood circulation.

Since 2017, international trade in all pangolin species has been prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), providing them with extensive protection. However, illegal trade continues, with an estimated one million pangolins trafficked in the last decade.

Photo Credit: Tikkihywood foundation Cameroon

Why Pangolins Must be Protected.

According to the Nature Conservancy organization, Pangolins are known as the guardians of the forest, helping to protect against termite destruction. As small as they appear, an adult pangolin weighing 6.6 pounds can consume more than 0.66 pounds of termites in one meal. One pangolin may prevent termites from destroying an area as vast as 31 football fields (41 acres) because of their enormous appetite.

The Pangolin Project notes that we can determine the state of the habitat in which many of these species reside by keeping an eye on these indicator species. Protecting pangolins also safeguards the biodiversity of their habitats, which are rich ecosystems crucial for maintaining healthy flora, insect life, and soils. These elements are vital for a balanced ecosystem, which in turn supports human health, food security, and mitigates the impacts of climate change.

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