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<p>Pangolins are trafficked globally for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine. Shipments of non-scale pangolin products are less common, but not unheard of in the international wildlife trade. In this case study, we examine a shipment that the US Fish &amp; Wildlife Service intercepted in 2023, which contained a real, intact pangolin skin, bushbuck hides, goatskin drums, and counterfeit wildlife products, namely a fake pangolin skin and fake lion head. We analyzed these items using a variety of forensic methods, including morphological characterization, x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and DNA sequencing. We also mapped the ranges of the species involved to investigate the geographic origins of this shipment. The real pangolin was morphologically identified as a White-bellied Tree Pangolin (<i>Phataginus tricuspis</i>) and the bushbuck hides as Western Harnessed Bushbucks (<i>Tragelaphus scriptus scriptus</i>). Chemical and genetic work revealed the fake pangolin skin was made with Atlantic Tarpon (<i>Megalops atlanticus</i>) scales. The fake lion head was genetically identified as Domestic Goat (<i>Capra hircus</i>). These species’ ranges overlap in coastal West Africa, which was corroborated by an air waybill originating in Sierra Leone. We surmise that these items were intended for use in traditional West African medicinal or religious practices, marking a potentially new source of US demand for pangolin products. This case underscores the critical role of multidisciplinary forensic analysis, not just for species identification, but for exploring why wildlife is trafficked, maximizing limited wildlife law enforcement resources, and detecting new trends in the wildlife trade.</p>

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Forensic insights from a fishy pangolin on the trade in real and fake whole pangolin skins

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月7日

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  • Jen Tinsman,
  • Brian C. Hamlin,
  • John-Marc Goldman,
  • Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra,
  • Dyan J. Straughan,
  • Edgard Espinoza

摘要

Pangolins are trafficked globally for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine. Shipments of non-scale pangolin products are less common, but not unheard of in the international wildlife trade. In this case study, we examine a shipment that the US Fish & Wildlife Service intercepted in 2023, which contained a real, intact pangolin skin, bushbuck hides, goatskin drums, and counterfeit wildlife products, namely a fake pangolin skin and fake lion head. We analyzed these items using a variety of forensic methods, including morphological characterization, x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and DNA sequencing. We also mapped the ranges of the species involved to investigate the geographic origins of this shipment. The real pangolin was morphologically identified as a White-bellied Tree Pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) and the bushbuck hides as Western Harnessed Bushbucks (Tragelaphus scriptus scriptus). Chemical and genetic work revealed the fake pangolin skin was made with Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) scales. The fake lion head was genetically identified as Domestic Goat (Capra hircus). These species’ ranges overlap in coastal West Africa, which was corroborated by an air waybill originating in Sierra Leone. We surmise that these items were intended for use in traditional West African medicinal or religious practices, marking a potentially new source of US demand for pangolin products. This case underscores the critical role of multidisciplinary forensic analysis, not just for species identification, but for exploring why wildlife is trafficked, maximizing limited wildlife law enforcement resources, and detecting new trends in the wildlife trade.