Although the three pangolin species are classified as category A wildlife species benefiting from maximum protection under Cameroonian law, enforcement of the law remains insufficient. The Cameroonian government has expressed its intention to strengthen sanctions against traffickers, but concrete efforts are still needed to translate these intentions into effective actions.

In 2017, Cameroon banned the hunting and killing of all pangolins, following a ban on international trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Capturing or killing a pangolin is punishable by a fine of 3 to 10 million CFA francs ($5,000 to $17,000) and imprisonment of up to three years. Any person found in possession of a pangolin or part of the animal without a license is considered to have captured or killed it.

On March 30, 2024, as part of the fight against illegal trade in protected species, wildlife officers raided the Nkoldongo bushmeat market in Yaoundé, confiscating all protected species, including six live pangolins. , and sending a strong message from the government regarding its commitment to protecting Cameroon’s natural heritage.