Pangolin as a Pet? The Ugly Truth You Need to Know

Do pangolins make good pets? No, they don’t! These animals are very special in many regards, but like most wild animals, they should be left where they belong: In nature. In most countries, it’s illegal to keep this species as a pet, and you would have trouble making them thrive. Sadly, most pangolins in captivity die after a short period of time.

What Is A Pangolin?

Before going into the details of why pangolins shouldn’t be kept as pets, let’s discuss what they actually are.

Pangolins are the only mammal with scales, which alone makes them fascinating animals. Often it’s also the reason why people want to own them. They are just too special and cool, beyond their scales, pangolins have very specific natural behaviors: they spend much of their time living underground in burrows, digging with their powerful claws and following an entirely wild lifestyle that isn’t suited for captivity.

For completely underground animals, explore the truth about having a mole as a pet.

However, often they are referred to as anteaters or aardvarks when people talk about them. But the only thing they have in common is their diet. In reality, these species aren’t related at all. Instead, researchers found that they evolved convergent and gave them their own order Pholidota.

There are 8 species of pangolins that live in Asian and African regions:

• Cape pangolin
• Tree pangolin
• Giant ground pangolin
• Long-tailed pangolin
• Indian pangolin
• Philippine pangolin
• Chinese pangolin
• Sunda pangolin

All of them are endangered and near to the cliff of extinction.

Important First:

• Pangolins are protected animals under international law (CITES).
• In most countries, it’s illegal to own, buy, or sell them as pets.
• They are also endangered due to poaching and trafficking.

That being said, if you are caring for a rescued or sanctuary pangolin (legally and ethically), here’s how they need to be looked after:

Is It Legal To Keep A Pet Pangolin?

Keeping a pangolin as a pet is illegal in most countries due to international and national conservation laws.

Here is a breakdown of the key reasons:

1. International Protection: All eight species of pangolins are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
   • Appendix I is reserved for species most threatened with extinction.
   • This listing prohibits all international commercial trade in pangolins and their body parts by the 184 member countries, which is intended to stop them from being taken from the wild for commercial purposes, including the pet trade.
2. National Laws: Many countries, including the United States, have national laws like the Endangered Species Act that protect these animals and prohibit their import and sale. Poaching and trafficking of pangolins are serious crimes globally.
3. Conservation Status: Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, primarily for their scales and meat. All eight species are classified as threatened with extinction, ranging from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The pet trade is a significant factor contributing to their decline.
4. Suitability as Pets: Beyond the legal issues, pangolins are not suitable as pets. They are shy, solitary, nocturnal wild animals with extremely complex and specialized diets (certain species of ants and termites). They often suffer from stress-related illnesses and dietary deficiencies in captivity, leading to a high mortality rate even in well-funded zoos.

In summary, the trade and keeping of pangolins are heavily restricted and mostly illegal globally to protect them from extinction.

Pangolins are rare and controversial pets. If you’re interested in other exotic animals, check out our detailed look at keeping a Binturong as a Pet.

How to Care for a Pangolin (In a Rescue or Sanctuary)

1. Pangolin Diet and Feeding

• Special diet: Pangolins mainly eat ants and termites.
• You cannot feed them regular pet food.
• They need a diet rich in insects, sometimes supplemented with eggs and specialized insectivore formulas.
• I have seen rescued pangolins struggling because their food needs are so specific — even zoos find it hard.

2. Pangolin Habitat and Environment

• They need a large, natural space to roam and dig.
• Temperature must stay warm (around 24–30°C / 75–86°F).
• Pangolins are burrowers and climbers; they must have loose soil, trees, and safe hiding spots.

3. Pangolin Health Care

• Pangolins are very sensitive to stress and captivity.
• They can easily develop digestive issues, skin diseases, and emotional stress if not cared for properly.
• Regular vet visits with a specialist in wildlife medicine are necessary.

4. Pangolin Social Needs

• Pangolins are solitary animals.
• They prefer being alone and can get aggressive if they feel threatened or crowded.

5. Emotional Well-Being

• I think it’s very hard for pangolins to adjust to captivity.
• They often suffer silently. I have seen reports where even with the best care, pangolins didn’t survive long outside their wild habitat.

I feel that pangolins belong in the wild, not in homes.
If you love pangolins, the best way to “take care” of them is to support wildlife conservation programs that protect them in their natural environment.

Pangolins Aren’t Domesticated

Pangolins aren’t domesticated. Unlike other wild animals, this species can’t be tamed. This fact alone should let you stay away from pet pangolin.

But it gets worse, they can’t get house-trained and they have strong scent glands, meaning your house would get smelly just like when you would decide on a pet binturong or pet honey badger.

Noisy and environments with a lot of activity mean a high stress level for pet pangolins. That can lead to aggressive behavior and your pet might turn into a violent and destructive monster. It might decide to bite you or destroy all your furniture.

Pangolins Are Endangered

Pangolins are an endangered species and researchers fear their extinction. In Asian countries, mostly China, rich people show their wealth by ordering expensive pangolin meat in restaurants.

As the economy thrives in these countries, more and more people can afford the expensive prices. The demand is actually so high that a portion of the supply has to come from Africa. 

Smugglers organize the illegal trade and ask for high prices to compensate for their risk. But it’s still a worthwhile business.

Pangolins Die In Captivity

Sadly pangolins are very sensitive to stress. Most individuals die just a short time after they were captured in the wild. Those who are meant to be shipped from Africa to Asia often don’t arrive alive.

While we’re talking about keeping them as pets here, it’s not very different. Apart from stress, their diet is another reason why the lifespan of pet pangolins is so short. 

Like anteaters or aardvarks, this species lives solely on ants and termites. But in this case, there is no substitute that they want to eat, nor one that meets all their requirements.

Most pangolins in captivity die through starvation and get only a few weeks old.

Is It Ethical To Have A Pangolin As A Pet?

It’s not only a question of your morals here. Apart from the suffering of the animal and their red list status, why should you pay a large sum for a pet that will die shortly after you made the purchase?

I don’t know and I bet nor will every pet owner.

How Much Is A Pet Pangolin?

There are no pangolins for sale, not a pet shop and not from a breeder. So how should I know how high the price for a baby pangolin is? Honestly, I don’t know.

But I know that most likely you can buy one if you are willing to pay enough. But you would have to look at the black market and make contacts with criminal people. Those kinds of people no one wants to have contact with.

And you would have to pay a lot more than $10,000 for just one individual. That’s a number I estimate after looking at the meat prices in Asia. In a restaurant, you pay around $3,000 for a kilo of meat. So the living animal which must be transported into the US should be much more expensive right?

Pangolin as a pet price

• On the black market, pangolins have been sold for $1,000 to $5,000 USD or even higher depending on the country and whether it’s alive or dead.
• In some illegal markets, pangolin scales alone (used in traditional medicines) are sold for hundreds to thousands of dollars per kilogram.
• Baby pangolins (rarely found alive) have been priced even higher because they are seen as “exotic” and “cute.”

Why So Expensive on the Black Market?

• Pangolins are endangered and very hard to find.
• Poachers risk a lot to capture them.
• Demand is high in some regions (especially for scales and meat), sadly.
• Keeping one alive after capture is difficult, so “fresh” pangolins are rare.

Are Pangolins Friendly to Humans?

Pangolins are naturally shy, introverted animals.

• They are not aggressive unless they feel cornered or threatened.
• They prefer to avoid humans altogether.
• If approached, a pangolin’s first instinct is to curl into a tight ball to protect itself using its hard, armored scales.
• In sanctuaries, pangolins might get used to their human caretakers very slowly, but it’s more tolerance than actual friendliness.
• I think of pangolins like wild deer — beautiful, peaceful, but not looking for friendship.

Bottom Line: Pangolins are peaceful but are not friendly in the way pets or social animals are.

Are Pangolins Good Pets?

No, pangolins are NOT good pets.
Here’s why:

• Specialized Diet: They eat mainly ants and termites — hundreds or thousands per day. Providing that diet in captivity is almost impossible.
• Stress: They stress very easily in captivity. Stress leads to illness and early death.
• Legal Issues: Pangolins are highly protected under international and national laws because they are endangered.
  Owning one without special government permits is illegal.
• Short Lifespan in Captivity: Even in zoos, pangolins often die quickly because it’s so hard to meet their needs.

Bottom Line: Even if you love pangolins, keeping one as a pet would likely cause it great harm.

Can You Tame a Pangolin?

No, you can’t truly tame a pangolin.

• Pangolins are wild animals with instincts that are not meant for taming.
• Unlike dogs or horses, they have never been domesticated over generations.
• Even pangolins raised in captivity are naturally solitary and prefer minimal contact.
• Taming would require forcing them into behavior that causes stress, which could kill them.

Bottom Line: Pangolins are wild at heart and mind. They are not meant to be tamed.

Can You Keep Pangolins?

Generally, no — you cannot keep a pangolin.

• Keeping pangolins without special licenses is illegal almost everywhere due to their endangered status.
• Only registered wildlife sanctuaries and scientific institutions with government approval are allowed to keep them.
• Even those who keep them legally face massive challenges because of their sensitive health, diet, and emotional needs.

Bottom Line: Regular people cannot legally or ethically keep pangolins.

Looking for a creature that’s equally odd but from a different order? Our article on the Platypus as a Pet will surprise you with what’s possible (and not).

How Long Do Pangolins Live?

• In the wild: Pangolins can live around 15 to 20 years if they stay healthy and free from threats like poaching.
• In captivity: Sadly, pangolins often survive only a few months to a few years because it’s so hard to replicate their natural environment and diet.
• Health complications like digestive disorders, stress-related illness, and infections are common reasons for early death in captivity.

Bottom Line: Pangolins live longer in the wild than in captivity.

Can You Touch a Pangolin?

Touching a pangolin must be done with extreme care — and usually only by professionals:

• Their skin underneath the scales is very sensitive.
• Handling causes high stress, which weakens their immune system.
• Wild pangolins should never be touched — it can frighten them severely and make them vulnerable to predators if released again.
• In rescue centers, limited gentle handling may happen for medical checks, but even then, the goal is minimal contact.

Bottom Line: Only professionals should touch pangolins, and only when necessary.

Are Pangolins Aggressive?

No, pangolins are not aggressive by nature.

• When threatened, they defend themselves by rolling into a ball.
• Their scales are sharp and strong; they can slash an attacker if necessary by swinging their tail.
• But pangolins do not seek out fights. They rely on defense and avoidance, not aggression.

Bottom Line: Pangolins are gentle, defensive creatures, not attackers.

Can a Bullet Go Through a Pangolin?

• Pangolin scales are extremely tough — made of keratin (the same material as human nails).
• They can deflect bites from predators like lions or leopards.
• However, a bullet, especially from a modern firearm, can penetrate their armor.
• Their scales provide excellent natural protection against claws, teeth, and minor injuries — but not against high-velocity bullets.

Bottom Line: Pangolin scales are tough but cannot stop bullets.

Can Pangolins Lay Eggs?

No, pangolins do NOT lay eggs.

• Pangolins are mammals, not reptiles or monotremes (like platypuses).
• Female pangolins give birth to live young, usually one baby at a time (sometimes two).
• The baby pangolin is born with soft scales, which harden over a few days.

Bottom Line: Pangolins are live-birth mammals, not egg-layers.

What People on Reddit Say About Pangolins as Pets

1. They’re very cute and people wish they could have one
   • On r/aww, a user said: “i need one of these” (referring to a pangolin), but another replied: “They’re extremely protected so it’s not possible to have one as a pet.”
   • In a thread with a rescued pangolin named Ditsi, users expressed a mix of adoration and realism: “Cute … Wish I could have one as a pet … but you know what I mean.”
   • Some pointed out how weird and alien pangolins seem, but in a lovable way.
2. High risk / ethical & legal concerns
   • In a photo thread, someone wrote: “Pangolins are one of the most trafficked animals in the world … extremely vulnerable to stress and most die within 6 months of being in captivity.”
   • On a legal side: in r/singapore, there’s discussion of a man who was fined for reselling a pregnant pangolin and failing to care for it properly.
   • Some Redditors note that keeping a pangolin contributes to a harmful trade, as these animals are often trafficked.
3. Wild animal, not domesticated
   • Several comment threads point out that pangolins are wild, shy, and not well-suited for life in a household.
   • Their biology: they need a specialized diet, they burrow or dig, and they have complex ecological needs (ants, termites, etc.), making them very difficult to care for in captivity. (Redditors often refer indirectly to these problems.)
4. Emotional complexity
   • Even when people fantasize about having a pangolin, many immediately caveat: “I don’t actually want one … the wild is the best place for them.”
   • There’s sadness / guilt that comes with the idea of them being pets, especially when tied to illegal wildlife trade.

Broader / Expert‑Backed Commentary (Echoed by Redditors)

• Legal protections: Pangolins are very heavily protected under international law.
• Conservation status: All species are threatened; trafficking is a huge issue.
• Dietary needs: Pangolins eat mainly ants and termites; replicating their diet in captivity is very hard.
• Stress and mortality: They are susceptible to stress in captivity, contributing to high death rates.
• Habitat and health: They need specific environmental conditions (burrowing substrate, proper temperature, etc.).
• Ethical concerns: Because they’re trafficked so heavily, wanting one as a pet is viewed by many as contributing to a harmful demand.

If pangolins interest you, you might also want to read about red pandas as pets.

Final Thoughts

The idea of having a pangolin as a pet touches something deep inside — their shy nature, delicate movements, and gentle eyes make them seem almost magical. I think many people imagine caring for a pangolin as a way of holding a piece of untouched nature in their hands.

But the truth is much harder.

Pangolins are wild, sensitive creatures that belong in the forests, not in human homes. Their lives depend on a very specific diet of ants and termites, their health relies on endless space to roam and dig, and their hearts beat for the quiet rhythms of the wild. I have seen stories of pangolins brought into captivity where even the best human intentions could not save them from stress and sadness.

I feel that pangolins, more than many animals, carry the spirit of the wild inside them. They cannot be tamed. They should not be caged. Owning a pangolin is illegal in most parts of the world because every life matters for their survival.

If you love pangolins, the best way to “have” one is to protect them where they are happiest — in their forests, under the stars, free and safe.