Pangolins are the 'world's most trafficked mammal.' This man wants to save them

Captured for their meat and for use in traditional medicine, some species of Pangolin are on the brink of extinction. Vietnamese conservationist Thai Van Nguyen has won the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work to protect the animals.

They are elusive and solitary animals and population studies have not been able to estimate how many pangolins are left in the wild. They are also extremely difficult to care for in captivity, often dying with no clear cause. Eight species are found across Africa and Asia, categorized from vulnerable to critically endangered. In Southeast Asia -- where Chinese and Sunda pangolins, two of the most threatened species, can be found -- the biggest threat is poaching. They are sought after for their meat and also for use in traditional medicine; their scales are thought, without evidence, to improve circulation and reduce inflammation.