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World & History
A shy, nocturnal mammal covered in overlapping scales, which rolls into a ball when threatened.
Pangolins have no teeth. They dig into ant and termite nests with strong claws and lick up insects with a very long, sticky tongue. Their scales are made of keratin, like human fingernails.
Pangolins are among the most trafficked mammals in the world, killed for their scales and meat, which are sought for traditional medicine. In Pakistan their numbers have fallen sharply in areas such as the Potohar.
International trade in pangolins is banned under CITES, and provincial wildlife laws protect them.