Volume
69
Number
2
About the Cover
A ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii). Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammal, hunted for their meat and scales, which—though made of simple keratin—are coveted for inclusion in traditional medicines. Wildlife trade, both legal and illegal, is not just harmful to animals. It’s harmful to us. This year, we are finding out just how dangerous it can be, as the COVID-19 virus—which jumped to us from captured wildlife—spreads around the globe and wreaks havoc on human society. Read more on how wildlife trade and deadly pandemics are intertwined.