History of Pangolin in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 25, 2025

Pangolins, also called scaly anteaters, are mammals belonging to the order Pholidota. The Manidae family consists of three genera: Manis (four species in Asia), Phataginus (two species in sub-Saharan Africa), and Smutsia (two species also in sub-Saharan Africa). These species vary in size from 30 to 100 cm. Several extinct pangolin species are known. As of September 2023, nine species have been identified.

1989: Enactment of Wildlife Conservation Act in Taiwan

In 1989, Taiwan enacted the Wildlife Conservation Act, becoming one of the few conservation grounds for pangolins in the world.

November 2010: Pangolins Added to Zoological Society of London's List

In November 2010, pangolins were added to the Zoological Society of London's list of evolutionarily distinct and endangered mammals. All eight species of pangolin are assessed as threatened by the IUCN, while three are classified as critically endangered.

April 2013: Seizure of Pangolin Meat in the Philippines

In April 2013, 10,000 kg of pangolin meat were seized from a Chinese vessel that ran aground in the Philippines, highlighting the illegal trafficking of pangolins.

July 2014: Launch of "Scaling up Pangolin Conservation" Action Plan

In July 2014, the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group launched a global action plan to conserve pangolins, named "Scaling up Pangolin Conservation". This plan emphasizes combating poaching and trafficking of the animal and educating communities.

August 2016: Arrest in Indonesia for Possession of Pangolins

In August 2016, an Indonesian man was arrested after police raided his home and found over 650 pangolins in freezers on his property, underscoring the severity of pangolin trafficking.

2017: Jackie Chan's Public Service Announcement for Pangolins

In 2017, Jackie Chan made a public service announcement called WildAid: Jackie Chan & Pangolins (Kung Fu Pangolin) to raise awareness about pangolin conservation.

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2018: Vietnam Becomes Main Destination Country for Pangolins

In 2018, Vietnam surpassed China as the main destination country for pangolins.

2018: Launch of Counting Pangolins Movement

In 2018, a Chinese NGO launched the Counting Pangolins movement, calling for joint efforts to save the mammals from trafficking.

2019: Vietnam Seizes Largest Volumes of Pangolin Scales

In 2019, it was reported that Vietnam seized the largest volumes of pangolin scales, surpassing Nigeria that year.

January 2020: IUCN Considers All Pangolin Species Threatened

As of January 2020, the IUCN considered all eight species of pangolin on its Red List of Threatened Species as threatened, highlighting increasing conservation attention to the species.

January 2020: Pangolins Conservation Status

As of January 2020, the conservation status of all eight species of pangolins is listed as threatened. Manis culionensis, M. pentadactyla, and M. javanica were critically endangered; Phataginus tricuspis, Manis crassicaudata, and Smutsia gigantea were endangered; and Phataginus tetradactyla and Smutsia temminckii were vulnerable on the IUCN's Red List.

December 2020: Study on Conservation Efforts for Philippine Pangolins

In December 2020, a study found that it is "not too late" to establish conservation efforts for Philippine pangolins (Manis culionensis), a species only found on the island province of Palawan.

2020: Removal of Pangolin Scales from Chinese Pharmacopoeia

In 2020, pangolins were removed from the official pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, starting from the first half of the year. Although pangolin scales have been removed from the list of raw ingredients, the scales are still listed as a key ingredient in various medicines.

2020: Discovery of Novel RNA Viruses in Pangolins

In 2020, two novel RNA viruses distantly related to pestiviruses and coltiviruses were detected in the genomes of dead Manis javanica and Manis pentadactyla, named Dongyang pangolin virus (DYPV) and Lishui pangolin virus (LSPV).

September 2023: Nine Pangolin Species Reported

In September 2023, it was reported that there are nine known species of pangolins.

2023: New Discoveries Expand Understanding of Giant Ground Pangolin

In 2023, new discoveries have expanded the understanding of the Giant Ground Pangolin’s distribution and ecological habits. Recent records have confirmed that these species are present in new areas of Kenya, which significantly extended its known range.