Pangolin and Other Animal Oils of Tanzania

Pangolin Posters No. 1 (2026). Since 2020 there has been a dramatic growth in the market for pangolin and other animal oils in East Africa. Purported ‘pangolin’ oil—often mixed with ‘capybara’ and sometimes ‘hedgehog’ oil—is produced, bottled and packaged by vendors of traditional medicine in Tanzania, and sold both there and in neighbouring Kenya in retail shops and online. Swahili language advertisements for these oils draw on people’s hopes and fears by promising a range of benefits derived from the magical powers of pangolins and other ‘lucky’ animals. While it seems unlikely that these oils contain any of the ingredients that give them their names, they nevertheless have the potential to harm pangolins and other animals associated with them, by stimulating illegal killing and the underground trade that supplies local healers and herbalists preparing such medicines. This poster is a collage of edited images drawn from social media and online promotions of the products depicted. It provides a snapshot of pangolin and other animal oils produced and sold by Tanzanians over the past five years, many of which remain available. Glossary of Swahili terms: kakakuona (ngakakuona) = 'pangolin'; ngekewa = 'capybara', 'lucky animal'; kalunguyeye (karunguyeye) = 'hedgehog'; mafuta = 'oil', mafuta ya... = 'oil of...'; bahati = 'luck'; bahati ya... = 'luck of...' Suggested citation: Walsh, Martin. 2026. Pangolin and Other Animal Oils of Tanzania. Pangolin Posters No. 1. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19250985 Version noteVersion 1 (March 2026).