Crime and Pangolins

In 2018, authorities in Hong Kong seized a shipment from smugglers that contained 88 dead pangolins. Where did these animals come from, and why were they killed? Where were they going? Who was responsible? In classic true crime fashion, the book examines evidence, suspects, and legal perspectives related to this specific case and, through it, the plight of pangolins globally. The chapters detail the lives and natural history of pangolins across Africa and Asia while exploring clues that may reveal who is responsible for the endangerment of the species. The book also explores speculation surrounding the possible role of pangolins in the emergence of COVID-19 and, more broadly, the relationship between wildlife trade and zoonotic disease. The resulting tale is one of conservation researchers, public health experts, and global organizations across Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe fighting to create a world in which pangolins can thrive again.

Timothy C. Bonebrake is director and professor of the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Hong Kong.

“The international traffic in pangolins is a vast and heartbreaking criminal enterprise against a group of wondrous, gentle, and almost defenseless creatures. Timothy Bonebrake tells that story and much more in this thoughtful, important book.”

—David Quammen, author of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic

“Timothy Bonebrake and a colorful coterie of collaborating sleuths probe the identity, origins, and ultimate destination of 88 mutilated pangolin carcasses seized in Hong Kong. Combining erudition with a light touch, Bonebrake explains how exploitation and trade have depleted wild pangolin populations—and the potential implications for people.”

—David Dudgeon, The University of Hong Kong

“Bonebrake turns the illegal pangolin trade into a gripping ‘mammalian murder mystery,’ weaving ecology, conservation, and disease dynamics into a clear-eyed account of how wildlife exploitation reverberates through ecosystems and public health. Readers gain both scientific insight and policy urgency—plus renewed hope that rigorous evidence can drive pangolin recovery.”

—Hillary Young, The University of California, Santa Barbara