What it is
The Chinese pangolin is a nocturnal, scale-covered mammal that eats ants and termites. IUCN listed it as Critically Endangered in 2019. There is no reliable range-wide head-count; assessments infer collapse from trade seizures and empty forests. It is one of four Asian pangolins. African pangolins (giant and white-bellied Endangered; Temminck’s and black-bellied Vulnerable) are a separate trade stream, not this card.
Range
Historically from northern India and Nepal through southern China to Taiwan and northern Southeast Asia. Now a scatter of remnants.
What happened
Scales enter traditional-medicine markets; meat is a luxury food. CITES moved all pangolins to Appendix I in 2017. Poaching and smuggling continue. Habitat loss adds pressure. Do not invent a global number.
When / status
Critically Endangered now, because of people.
Human role
Commercial hunting for scales and meat is the main driver.
Sources
IUCN Red List (Manis pentadactyla, CR, 2019); IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group; CITES Appendix I.