IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group

What IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group does

The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group (PSG) is a voluntary specialist network operating under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission. Re-established in February 2012 in response to widespread threats to pangolins — the most illegally traded wild mammals on the planet — the network has grown to 190 expert members from 38 countries, spanning field biologists, social scientists, zoologists, veterinarians, ecologists, and geneticists. The PSG is hosted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which processes donations and provides administrative support.

The group's core "products" are conservation science outputs rather than commercial goods: IUCN Red List assessments for all eight pangolin species, the 2014 global action plan "Scaling Up Pangolin Conservation," regional strategies (notably the Sunda Pangolin Conservation Strategy 2018–2028), national strategies for Hong Kong, Nepal, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines, a USAID-funded identification guide in ten languages with a companion iOS app, an ecological monitoring guidance document, a first-responder manual for confiscated live pangolins, and a categorized scientific literature library. The PSG also provides technical support to CITES Parties and Observers and contributed substantively to the 2016 transfer of all pangolin species to CITES Appendix I.

The PSG does not generate commercial revenue. Its operating model is donation- and grant-funded, with donations channeled through ZSL and institutional funding sourced from partners including Fondation Segrè, USAID, USFWS, TRAFFIC, Save Our Species, the Pangolin Crisis Fund, P. Allen Family Foundation, and multiple zoos (Houston, San Antonio, Mandai, Hong Kong Ocean Park). Membership is by invitation only at the discretion of the Chairs, and the group's reach spans 70+ member projects across Africa, Asia, and beyond.

Name

IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group

Legal name

IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group

Website

https://pangolinsg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group is a 190-member voluntary network of conservation experts across 38 countries, hosted by the Zoological Society of London. It produces Red List assessments, conservation strategies, and law enforcement tools to combat the illegal trade threatening all eight pangolin species.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Endangered species protection
• Illegal wildlife trade
• IUCN red list assessment
• Conservation action planning

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: The primary revenue stream comes from donations made to the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group. Donations support key activities including convening members and partners to develop pangolin conservation strategies, participating in key meetings globally, and mobilizing members to respond to emerging threats.
2. Membership Support: While membership is by invitation only, members are expected to contribute to the group's objectives through reviews of draft SSC technical guidelines, assisting with updating IUCN Red List assessments, and providing species conservation advice.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group is a voluntary global network of conservation experts that mobilizes scientific research, conservation planning, and policy influence to protect all eight species of pangolins from poaching and illegal trade. The organization develops conservation strategies, identification guides, monitoring protocols, and provides technical support to international bodies including IUCN and CITES.

Product overview

The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group is a voluntary network of conservation experts operating under the IUCN Species Survival Commission framework. The organization does not offer a unified software product but provides a portfolio of conservation-focused resources and publications. Core offerings include guidance manuals (First Responders Manual, Ecological Monitoring Guidance), the USAID Pangolin Species Identification Guide with companion iOS app, and conservation strategies at global, regional, and national levels. The group maintains a scientific literature library covering pangolin ecology, trade, forensics, and conservation. These resources are made available as downloadable documents and web-based content rather than a integrated software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• USAID Pangolin Species Identification Guide A pangolin identification guide to assist front-line law enforcement officers in confidently identifying different pangolin species and their derivatives, available in ten languages.
• First Responders Manual Guidance document providing instructions to law enforcement personnel and others on how to care for live confiscated pangolins until they can be transferred to a suitable care facility or veterinarian.
• Ecological Monitoring Guidance Methods for monitoring populations of pangolins providing guidance on sampling methods applicable to different pangolin species and their implementation. Available in English, French, and Portuguese.
• Scaling Up Pangolin Conservation (Global Action Plan) The first ever global conservation action plan outlining critical actions required to conserve pangolins.
• Regional Sunda Pangolin Conservation Strategy Regional conservation strategy for the Sunda pangolin covering 2018-2028, developed collaboratively with IUCN SSC ASAP, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, and IUCN SSC CPSG.
• National Conservation Strategies National action plans developed for specific countries including Hong Kong SAR, Nepal, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
• Pangolin Species iOS App Smartphone application developed in collaboration with the Pangolin Specialist Group to accompany the USAID pangolin identification guide, available for download on iOS.
• Scientific Literature Library Comprehensive collection of scientific literature organized into categories including CITES and enforcement, conservation action, demand, ecology, forensics, husbandry, phylogeny, trade and use, and veterinary health.
• Pangolins and Covid-19 Factsheet

Quantifiable outcome

• All eight pangolin species transferred to CITES Appendix I in 2016
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Zoological Society of London (ZSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group is hosted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). ZSL processes donations to the PSG and provides institutional hosting and administrative support.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for Fondation Segré Pangolin Conservation Initiative, supporting projects in Cameroon and Thailand and research into demand for pangolin products in China.
• TRAFFICmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRAFFIC works closely with the PSG on wildlife trade monitoring, demand reduction campaigns, and conservation projects. TRAFFIC is a leading NGO working on wildlife trade issues.
• IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Regional Sunda Pangolin Conservation Strategy published in 2019 and the Singapore National Sunda Pangolin Strategy.
• IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Regional Sunda Pangolin Conservation Strategy and Singapore National Sunda Pangolin Strategy.
• Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Singapore National Sunda Pangolin Strategy and conservation breeding programs. WRS includes Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and other wildlife parks.
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PSG provides technical support to CITES Parties and Observers. PSG's work contributed to the 2016 transfer of all pangolin species from Appendix II to Appendix I, establishing an international trade ban.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fauna & Flora International (FFI): Long-established international conservation NGO working on illegal wildlife trade and threatened species across Africa and Asia. Operates in the same donor, partner, and policy circles as the PSG, including at CITES, though across many more species.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Major international conservation NGO with active illegal wildlife trade and field conservation programs in Africa and Asia, including pangolin-related range-state work. Overlaps with PSG on species assessments, anti-trafficking, and CITES technical input.
• IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC): Parent network of ~160 Specialist Groups within IUCN. Directly comparable as the umbrella scientific authority for species conservation; PSG is one of its member groups, and SSC's broader scope and resources make it the closest structural peer.

Direct peers

• TRAFFIC: Leading wildlife trade monitoring NGO and a Major Strategic Partner of the PSG. Operates in the same illegal-wildlife-trade niche, co-produces CITES submissions, and shares funding sources and donor overlap, making it the closest mission-aligned peer.
• IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP): Co-developed the 2019 Regional Sunda Pangolin Conservation Strategy and Singapore National Strategy alongside PSG. An IUCN SSC thematic coalition focused on threatened Asian species, making it structurally and operationally comparable.
• Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS): Co-developed the Singapore National Sunda Pangolin Strategy with PSG. Comparable as a conservation organization delivering ex situ captive breeding, rescue/rehab, and field projects on the same flagship species (Sunda pangolin).
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL): The hosting institution of the PSG and implements the Fondation Segrè Pangolin Conservation Initiative in Cameroon and Thailand. A conservation charity with overlapping species, geographic, and donor exposure, and the operational backbone of PSG's program delivery.
• Save Our Species (SOS): Co-funds the Fondation Segrè Pangolin Conservation Initiative implemented through ZSL/PSG. A grantmaking NGO for threatened species conservation with overlapping donors and grant-eligible species conservation projects.
• IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG): Co-developed both the Regional Sunda Pangolin Conservation Strategy and the Singapore National Strategy with PSG. A peer IUCN SSC Specialist Group providing conservation planning methodology, offering a direct structural and methodological comparison.

Others

• Fondation Segrè: Major funder of the Pangolin Conservation Initiative (implemented via ZSL). Comparable as a philanthropic species-focused conservation foundation funding the same Cameroon and Thailand priority sites and donor ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PangolinSG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTHNYd_rY_x6bvdNc5HYvOQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/PangolinSG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iucn-ssc-pangolin-specialist-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/pangolinsg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group