A new Netflix documentary, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey, focuses on the life of pangolins through the story of Kulu’s rescue, rehabilitation, and return to the wild.
Pangolins, the only mammals in the world with scales, are threatened by the $20 billion illegal wildlife trade. Most are trafficked to China and the United States, where they are hunted for their meat and scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine and leather goods.
Between 2015 and 2021, pangolins made up 28% of global wildlife trafficking, second only to rhinos (29%). They were followed by elephants (15%), crocodiles (5%), and eels (5%).
Between 2015 and 2021, pangolins accounted for 28% of global wildlife trafficking, second only to rhinos (29%).
Due to the challenges of breeding pangolins in captivity and the fact that three out of four species in Asia are at risk of extinction, illegal hunting has increased, particularly in Africa. Between 2017 and 2019, more than half of wildlife trafficking involved species from Africa, and between 2016 and 2024, 301 pangolins were rescued in the region, with 700 poachers arrested.
The film, through the story of Kulu, highlights the challenges of rehabilitating the species, as they refuse to eat in captivity and require long daily walks in search of food. It is directed by Pippa Ehrlich, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher (2020).
