Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Each year, more than 100,000 of these small mammals are illegally poached and traded, pushing all eight pangolin species closer to extinction. Through internationally recognized research, partnerships, and conservation leadership, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is playing a critical role in protecting pangolins and advancing their survival worldwide.
The submission period for the North American Pangolin Consortium Grant is open through May 1, 2026. Please save the file to your computer before beginning the application process.
Pangolins are nocturnal and solidary animals native to Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia. Depending on the species, they live in underground burrows and spend much of their time in trees. Pangolins feed almost exclusively on ants and termites, using their powerful front claws to break into nests and using their long, sticky tongues to capture insects.
Their most distinctive feature is a full coat of overlapping scales made of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails and rhino horns. When threatened, the pangolin rolls up into a ball with the scales facing outwards, using them as armor to create a formidable defense from predators.
There are eight known species of pangolins worldwide: giant ground, Temminck’s ground, white-bellied, black-bellied, Indian, Chinese, Sunda, and Philippine. Since 2016, white-bellied pangolins have resided at Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Habita Africa! The Forest and in behind-the-scenes spaces. Brookfield Zoo Chicago remains the only zoo in the United States where guests can view pangolins on habitat, providing a rare opportunity for public education and conservation awareness.
Pangolins are endangered primarily due to illegal wildlife trafficking. For centuries, pangolins have been hunted for both their meat and their scales.
The demand for pangolins as a food source goes back hundreds of years in both Asia and Africa. In Asia, pangolin meat has long been considered a delicacy, and their scales — like rhino horn — have been sought for supposed medicinal properties.
In reality, pangolin scales do not cure illnesses. Yet traditional beliefs have fueled such high demand that all four Asian pangolin species are now critically endangered. As Asian populations have declined, poaching of African pangolins has surged.
Beyond traditional medicine, pangolin scales are also used in jewelry and decorative art, where they are sometimes viewed as status symbols. Pangolin meat is additionally hunted as bushmeat for local consumption and export.
Over the past decade alone, more than two million pangolins have been taken from the wild, making them one of the most heavily exploited mammals on Earth and putting them at serious risk of extinction across much of their range.
The plight of the pangolin has spurred Brookfield Zoo Chicago to take a leadership role in global conservation efforts. Alongside four other accredited zoological institutions in the United States, Brookfield Zoo Chicago co-founded the North American Pangolin Consortium, a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and conservation outcomes for pangolins worldwide.
Through this consortium, Brookfield Zoo Chicago helps fund and support annual research grants focused on:
Pangolin behavior and ecology
Nutritional requirements and health
Reproductive physiology and population sustainability
Much of this research is conducted in Africa, where pangolins face the greatest threats. The findings not only contribute to field conservation and anti-poaching strategies, but also directly inform best-practice care for pangolins in zoological settings. This research-driven approach ensures the highest standards of animal welfare while supporting long-term species survival.
By providing the only opportunity in the United States for the public to see pangolins, Brookfield Zoo Chicago plays a vital role in raising awareness about wildlife trafficking and endangered species. Seeing these animals up close helps guests understand the urgency of conservation and the impact human choices have on wildlife around the world.
Education is a powerful conservation tool — and Brookfield Zoo Chicago uses it to inspire action, inform global audiences, and support solutions that protect pangolins for future generations.
Protecting pangolins requires all of us to take action together. You can help by:
Supporting accredited conservation organizations like Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Avoiding products made from wildlife or wildlife parts
Sharing accurate information about pangolins and wildlife trafficking
Visiting and supporting institutions that fund conservation research
Every action contributes to the fight against illegal wildlife trade and the preservation of endangered species.
When you choose to adopt an animal at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, you'll be sharing the care. In addition to contributing to their daily care, you are also helping research and conservation efforts within the Zoo and around the world.
