Gin traps or snare traps using by farmers for crop-raiding control, or by hunters to capture animals, also accidentally cause injuries to pangolins. In recent years, gin traps and snare traps (Figure 2) have become the major causes of trauma for pangolins, accounting for about 10-20% of rescued pangolins. These traps often lead to severe injuries and necrosis, resulting in some pangolins being amputated and unable to be released back into the wild.(Figure 3). If you encounter any instances of buying, selling, or setting gin traps or snare traps, please report to 1999 or the Seventh Special Police Corps (保七) .

Pangolins often occur and forage along roadsides. Due to inadequate road shoulder design or ditches (Figure 4), pangolins may stay longer walking along roads to find suitable pathways to their habitats (Figure 5), which increases their risk of roadkill (Figure 6).

According to data from the Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network (TaiRON), there have been 244 recorded roadkill cases of pangolins over the past decade (2011–2023). Notably, 47 cases were recorded from 2022 to May 2023 alone, highlighting the urgent need to address roadkill issues. If you encounter any roadkill animals, please call 1999 or contact TaiRON. (Photo credits: 汪仁傑, 孫敬閔)

According to reports from wildlife rescue centers across Taiwan, dog attacks have been the major cause of trauma to pangolins over the past five years, accounting for more than 50% of all rescue cases. Pangolins attacked by dogs often suffer from the loss of their tails (Figures 7, 8, and 9). Losing their tail not only impacts their balance and climbing behavior but also reduces reproductive success when nursing babies. If you encounter an injured pangolin, please call 1999 or contact the local government. (Photo credits: 賴佑維, 黃惠敏)