According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), all eight pangolin species are listed as either "endangered" or "critically endangered," meaning they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Illegal hunting and poaching for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine, and their meat, which is considered a delicacy, are the primary threats to their survival. Additionally, habitat loss and fragmentation due to human activities such as logging and agriculture are also contributing to their decrease in numbers.