Pangolins—the adorable, shy, scaly mammals often likened to walking pinecones—are in peril. Hunted for their meat and trafficked for their keratin-rich scales, they’re believed to be the most heavily trafficked mammals in the world. Now, we have a rare chance to change that.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing that all eight pangolin species be granted protection under the Endangered Species Act. This would make it illegal to import or sell pangolins or their parts in the U.S., send a powerful signal to countries like China to shut down their own domestic markets, and open doors for stronger conservation funding and global collaboration.

This isn’t just about saving a single species—it’s about halting a chain of crimes that include arms and drug trafficking, funded in part by pangolin poaching. It’s also about doing the morally right thing: stopping the needless extinction of a species that curls into a ball when frightened, not knowing its instincts make it even easier to catch.

With a 60-day comment window open, we must speak up now. Let’s show decision-makers that Americans want our laws to reflect compassion, science, and a global commitment to protect wildlife.

Add your name to demand full endangered species protections for pangolins—before it’s too late.
 
 
 

Photo: Associated Press/nytimes.com