Endangered pangolins, the world's most trafficked mammals, have arrived at Vienna Zoo in Austria.

The Chinese pangolins, which face a dire threat of extinction, were rehomed in the Rainforest House at Schonbrunn Zoo, the oldest zoological park in the world, on March 26.

The enclosure is currently being revamped and is set to reopen in early 2026 with a fresh concept and new animal species.

Zoo Director Dr Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said: 'Pangolins are a fascinating family of animals. They're the only mammals covered in scales. Sadly, this protective armor also spells their doom. The scales are used in traditional medicine, leading to mass killings and smuggling.

'We'll display them in an exhibit mimicking a nighttime rainforest, thanks to special lighting. This will allow visitors to see them active. There will also be views into their sleeping dens.'

Schonbrunn Zoo has signed a cooperation agreement with Taipei Zoo and has visited pangolin facilities in Prague and Leipzig zoos.

A Vienna Zoo zookeeper trained at Taipei Zoo, which excels in breeding Chinese pangolins and operates a rescue center for injured pangolins that are later released back into the wild.

Since 2024, the zoo has supported the Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation in northeast Namibia, funding five rangers to study and protect the species.

In 2023, it hosted a workshop in South Africa with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), bringing together pangolin experts from conservation projects and zoos to strengthen efforts to save the species.

The Chinese pangolin is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. These animals are heavily hunted for their scales, used in traditional medicine, and for their meat. They also have a low birth rate, making population recovery a slow and challenging process.