Taiwan Pangolin

30-Second Overview: The Taiwan pangolin is the Taiwan subspecies of the pangolin—the most illegally traded mammal in the world. While their relatives in other parts of Asia face extinction due to smuggling, Taiwan has become one of the few regions where conservation has succeeded and population status is stabilizing. Through strict legal protection, comprehensive habitat maintenance, scientific research, and captive breeding, the story of the Taiwan pangolin serves as a rare "good news" case study for conservation.

Why It Matters

Pangolins are among the oldest mammals on Earth, covered in keratin scales that serve as living fossils witnessing the changes of our planet. However, over the past two decades, they have become the most trafficked wildlife globally. According to the Red List assessment updated by the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group at the end of 2019, out of eight pangolin species, three are listed as Critically Endangered (CR), three as Endangered (EN), and two as Vulnerable (VU), all facing varying degrees of extinction risk. ¹ The conservation success of the Taiwan pangolin offers the world another possibility: extinction is not destiny, and conservation can succeed under the right conditions.

A Mysterious Creature That Rolls into a Ball

The Taiwan pangolin (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla) is the Taiwan subspecies of the Chinese pangolin. Adults measure approximately 50 cm from head to torso and about 35 cm in tail length—roughly the size of a cat, ² covered in armor-like brown scales. These scales are not fish scales; they are primarily composed of keratin, similar to human fingernails.

As night falls, Taiwan pangolins begin their foraging journey. They are professional "insect cleaners," using powerful front claws to dig into ant nests and termite mounds, extending tongues that are nearly as long as their bodies. According to the New Taipei City Animal Protection Office, a single pangolin can eat 70 million termites in one year. ³ When faced with threats, they quickly roll into a tight ball, with their scales bristling outward.

A Survivor Amidst a Global Smuggling Crisis

Pangolins are the most illegally traded mammals in the world. The IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group estimates that between 2000 and 2019, the number of smuggled pangolins was equivalent to over 895,000 individuals, primarily flowing toward East and Southeast Asia. ¹

Pangolin scales (known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as chuānshānjiǎ jiǎpiàn) have long been included in Chinese traditional medicine; practitioners believe the scales can promote blood circulation and assist nursing mothers in lactation. While the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia no longer includes pangolins, in June of that same year, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration upgraded all species of the genus Manis from Class II to Class I protected species; however, Shi Li (食力) noted in 2020 that eight patented medicines in the pharmacopoeia still contained pangolin. ⁴⁵ Consequently, pangolin populations in Asia and Africa have declined rapidly. The Chinese pangolin was listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2014, and at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to CITES in 2016, a decision was passed to move all eight pangolin species to Appendix I, prohibiting international commercial trade, effective from early January 2017. ⁶

However, Taiwan is an anomaly in this extinction crisis.

Taiwan's Conservation Miracle

Strict Legal Protection

Taiwan enacted the Wildlife Conservation Act in 1989, and pangolins were among the first wave of animals included as protected species. ² Under current provisions, hunting or killing protected wildlife is punishable by 6 months to 5 years of imprisonment, plus a fine of NT$200,000 to NT$1 million (Article 41); unauthorized import/export, or buying, selling, or displaying for sale with intent to sell, can incur fines of NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million (Article 40). ⁷ Compared to mainland China, which did not upgrade the pangolin from a Class II protected animal to Class I until 2020, Taiwan's protective measures began earlier and are enforced more strictly.

Comprehensive Habitat Protection

Taiwan's low-altitude foothills provide ideal habitats for pangolins. Yangmingshan National Park is one of the important habitats for pangolins, with many habitats located adjacent to foothill settlements. ⁸

Scientific Research and Monitoring

Taiwanese research institutions have long invested in pangolin ecological studies. Notably, the team led by Assistant Professor Sun Ching-min of the Institute of Wildlife Conservation at National Pingtung University has established community reporting mechanisms combined with radio-tracking networks to study pangolin home ranges, population numbers, and breeding status. ⁸ This scientific data not only helps in understanding pangolin behavioral patterns but also provides a scientific basis for conservation policies.

Breeding Breakthroughs at Taipei Zoo

Taipei Zoo has achieved significant results in the captive breeding of pangolins: the first successful breeding within the zoo occurred in 1997, and captive-bred individuals have now reached the fourth generation. ⁹ Captive breeding of pangolins is extremely difficult due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, high dietary requirements, and long reproductive cycles. The zoo has even developed a "pangolin cake" recipe consisting of bee pupae, mealworms, apples, and eggs. ⁹

These breeding achievements not only provide an insurance policy for the conservation of the Taiwan pangolin but also contribute valuable experience to international pangolin conservation programs.

Unsung Heroes of the Ecosystem

The Taiwan pangolin performs specific functions within the ecosystem. As "biological control experts," the New Taipei City Animal Protection Office states that one pangolin can eat 70 million termites a year, controlling these insect populations. ³

Pangolin burrows are often utilized by other small animals.

Persistent Threats

Despite conservation successes, the Taiwan pangolin still faces many challenges:

Attacks by Stray Dogs

Stray dogs in the wild are one of the primary natural enemies facing pangolins in Taiwan. When threatened, pangolins roll into a ball, and their hard scales make it difficult for large predators to bite through directly. However, canine attacks differ; in 2018, the Taiwan Environmental Change Center (TECC) treated 24 injured pangolins, 16 of which (67%) had been attacked by dogs. While the pangolin curls into a ball, the fierce biting force of dogs often results in the loss of part of the tail. ²

Roadkill

There are cases of pangolins being injured by vehicles while crossing roads; of the 24 injured individuals treated by the TECC in 2018, one had been hit by a car. ²

Habitat Development

Although protected areas exist, urban expansion and road construction continue to fragment pangolin habitats, affecting population gene flow and foraging ranges.

The Possibility of Coexistence with Urban Areas

The Taiwan pangolin demonstrates remarkable adaptability. They appear not only in primary forests but also establish homes on the fringes of urban areas where human activity is frequent. Records of pangolin sightings exist in places like Yangmingshan in Taipei and Fuxing in Taoyuan.

In 2024, faculty and students from National Tsing Hua University discovered five burrows dug by pangolins while compiling a campus ecological guide; the burrows were approximately 1 meter deep and 20 cm wide. ¹⁰

Physiology and Habits

The pangolin's body structure is full of evolutionary wonders. The scales are primarily composed of keratin, similar to human fingernails. Their tongues are nearly as long as their bodies; however, they have no teeth and rely on keratinous "teeth" in the stomach along with small stones to grind food. Their front claws are powerful, allowing them to dig foraging holes 1 to 3 meters deep, while sleeping burrows can reach depths of 6 meters. Despite their heavy armor, pangolins are also excellent swimmers.

Except during mating season, pangolins are solitary for life, and mothers stay with their young for only about six months. They give birth to only one offspring per year; keepers at Taipei Zoo note that gestation lasts about 8 months and the period of caring for the young is about half a year. This extremely slow reproductive rate is one reason why populations are difficult to recover once they collapse.

Global Significance of the Taiwan Experience

The conservation success of the Taiwan pangolin provides a reference case for the protection of endangered species worldwide. Taiwan's approach has several characteristics: legislation was enacted as early as 1989; protection extends from legal frameworks to habitats, scientific research, and public education; the accumulation of data from research institutions and zoos provides a scientific basis for policy adjustments; and social awareness of pangolins in Taiwan deepens every year. The mechanism for citizens to report roadkill and injured or sick cases also forms part of the wildlife monitoring data.

In an era of rapid biodiversity loss, the story of the Taiwan pangolin provides a concrete answer: extinction is not the only possible outcome.

References

Further Reading

• Current Status of CITES Appendices
• Research Institute, Biodiversity Conservation Center, Agriculture and Food Agency