Unfortunately, the list of animals through out the world currently threatened with extinction is longer than many of us may realize. And although the reason behind the endangerment of these creatures can vary, some of the most common threats tend to involve the presence of invasive species, habitat loss, and poaching.
And when certain animal parts are believed to have medicinal properties, it's almost guaranteed that they're going to be a major target for poachers. Even when there's a scarcity of evidence suggesting they have any effect in treating ailments or supplementing, demand doesn't seem to decrease.
Although this issue has been devastating for the world's pangolins, it remains to be seen as to what effect new protection measures coming out of China could have on this demand.