DNA from Seized Pangolins Is Mapping Global Crime Routes

Quick Take

• Pangolins account for a staggering share of the global illegal wildlife trade, and the reason they're so targeted isn't what most people assume. Discover why they're targeted →
• For years, scientists couldn't trace trafficked pangolins, but researchers eventually found a solution hiding in an unlikely place. See how researchers cracked it →
• Researchers expected to find two separate pangolin markets, one local and one international, but what the DNA revealed was far more alarming. Explore the alarming findings →

Like any other clandestine industry, the illegal wildlife trade generates billions of dollars a year without much of a paper trail. Criminals operate under the cover of night, and money changes hands behind closed doors. The advent of DNA profiling, however, might give authorities a fighting chance in tracking the global span of this illegal and often cruel industry. According to researchers from the University of Toulouse, even minuscule samples of DNA can reveal the trade’s hotspots, trade routes, and destinations.

New research published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology shows that even trace samples of DNA can provide clues regarding the flow of exotic animals. To reach these conclusions, researchers used samples from pangolins. Due to the value of their meat and scales as food and traditional medicine, pangolins account for nearly a third of the illegal wildlife trade. Though pangolins have DNA like any other creature, the lack of viable samples previously made it hard for researchers to trace trafficked specimens. However, thanks to a new technique from the researchers behind the study, even trace samples can be used to build a fuller picture of the illegal flow of these creatures.

Pricey Pangolins

There aren’t many creatures that look like pangolins. Though they are sometimes referred to as scaly anteaters, pangolins sit in a category all their own. For a long time, scientists believed pangolins belonged to a sister group closely related to the order Carnivora, which includes animals like cats, dogs, and bears. More recent genetic evidence has confirmed that pangolins are actually the closest living relatives of carnivorans, despite looking nothing like typical predators.

Quite literally, the only mammal covered in keratinous scales, pangolins curl into tight balls that look like bowling balls of armor when threatened. Solitary and nocturnal, these thick-skinned creatures lack teeth but have strong front claws. They use their claws to dig into ant and termite nests, which make up their entire diet. They are important fixtures of their ecosystems, acting as natural pest controllers by eating tens of millions of insects each year.

Sticking out in nature can be beneficial, but pangolins have the tragic distinction of being among the most trafficked mammals in the world. The scales that make them so unique fetch a high price due to their use in traditional medicine. Even their meat makes them a target, as some cultures consider it a delicacy. This made pangolins a perfect subject for researchers conducting DNA analysis of the illegal animal trade.

Biological Breadcrumbs

While the reputation of pangolins as one of the most trafficked animals is well established, scientists previously lacked effective methods for tracing their flow across the global wildlife trade. Simply put, genetic samples of pangolins are hard to come by. Sensing an opportunity for better insight, researchers from the University of Toulouse and the Institute de Recherche pour le Développement in France set out to find better methods.

Sean Heighton, Philippe Gaubert, and their colleagues found a solution to the pangolin genetic sample problem by looking into the past. Indeed, they collected over “700 samples of Sunda, Chinese, and white-bellied pangolins from museum collections, field-sites, bushmeat markets, and international trade seizures.”

By combining these resources, the researchers managed to build a pangolin genomic map. This revealed certain hotspots for illegal pangolin hunting, including Myanmar, Cameroon, and several other African locations. Furthermore, the researchers found notable trade routes between China and the Indonesian islands. As Sean Heighton explained to Phys.org, the team developed a single gene-capture kit for all eight pangolin species. This makes the genomic tracing process “more accessible, scalable, and practical for real-world pangolin conservation and forensic use.”

Further Fact-finding Missions

Without this diverse collection of DNA samples, researchers would still be in the dark regarding solutions to the pangolin trade. As Philippe Gaubert explained to Phys.org, their research revealed some surprising facts. He said, “One of the most striking findings was that domestic pangolin trade is largely local, but it overlaps with the same sourcing regions that supply international trafficking—revealing a connected supply chain rather than separate markets.”

The team’s findings now make it possible to track trafficked pangolins within just a few kilometers of their geographic origin. While the process is now in place, the researchers acknowledge that data availability remains the true bottleneck. As such, the team behind the study suggests developing a more meticulous DNA database of trafficked animals. This, combined with more standardized sampling agreements and integrations, could make a real dent in the illegal pangolin trade. Considering that several species of pangolins are now endangered due to illegal trade, any new way to track their movements could offer a better long-term outlook.