PIONEERING PANGOLINS
Read about how Wild Tomorrow Fund is supporting the reintroduction of pangolins to Kwa-Zulu-Natal South Africa in our latest blog post.
One of the pioneering Temminck’s ground pangolins. Photo by Will Clothier
The story of the disappearing pangolin is one often defined by its dire situation and the wildlife trafficking responsible for it, and with good reason. Pangolins are considered the most trafficked mammal in the world, with an estimate of as many as 2.7 million African pangolins being poached each year. Most commonly, pangolins are killed for their scales, made of keratin and used in traditional medicines with false promises of curing cancer and arthritis, enhancing male vitality, promoting circulation and more. Despite having the highest level of protection under CITES, with international trade banned, at least eight patented Chinese medications still contain pangolin scales.
Pangolins are able to carry coronavirus strains, among other deadly viruses, meaning they could have, although highly unlikely, been a vector for the virus, bringing it from the source to humans. This alone should be enough to incite better enforcement of trafficking bans with various species being collected and sold together for consumption, creating high-risk conditions for pathogens to make their way to humans. The plight of the pangolin is quickly gaining notoriety because of their tragic circumstance, the risks accompanying their use, and their odd (but cute) appearance.
Pangolins roam many miles every night to feed on massive amounts of ants and termites. They are picky and will only eat certain species, ignoring others even if they are more abundant. Photo by Will Clothier.
With notoriety comes action. Wild Tomorrow Fund is working with the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG), Phinda Game Reserve and Manyoni Private Game Reserve to bring Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) back to the wilds of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pangolins have been classified as ecologically extinct in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, with only occasional sightings of individuals in the north. APWG confiscates ground pangolins from wildlife trafficking busts and brings them to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital before they are cleared for a “soft release”. Each released pangolin is fitted with a satellite tag attached to a scale on their back that automatically transmits their location to the reserves and APWG for monitoring.
This type of tracking is called telemetry, and it is used so that scientists can more reliably find the pangolins for carrying out their soft release and monitoring. The first seven pangolins were released on Phinda in 2019. Two unfortunately died of natural causes, but the remaining five have done very well for over twelve months now. This is a great success as it confirms that a pangolin population can return to South Africa, although one limited by irreversible damage. Moreover, one of the five pioneer pangolins was hand raised, showing that even pangolins that need intensive care at first have the potential to be released, giving more hope to those recovered from the illegal wildlife trade. There is hope that with increased awareness and commitment to fight wildlife crime, pangolin trade can be slowed and stopped. Along with this reintroduction initiative, populations can gradually be brought back to South Africa.
The eight species of pangolin are the only members of their order Pholidota, making them extremely unique. Their closest genetic relatives are the carnivorans. Photo by Will Clothier.
Wild Tomorrow Fund is taking multiple approaches to ensure a future that includes pangolins in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. New pangolin satellite tags were just purchased for the five pioneer pangolins, as these units need to be replaced regularly. Biologists without Borders in partnership with Wild Tomorrow Fund donated three telemetry sets this year for 24/7 pangolin monitoring.
Wild Tomorrow Fund also supports pangolin protection work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, together with Adams Cassinga and his organization, Conserv Congo. Conserv Congo actively fights against illegal poaching, mining, and logging, helping to stop the source of the pangolin’s imperilment. Wild Tomorrow Fund is also proud to be a new member of both the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance and the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime. Through this, we aim to help spur the improvement of CITES wildlife trade law enforcement and to create a global alliance that upholds it.
This is the start of what we hope is a great comeback story for African pangolins, with the beginning being a situation of desperation and the end being a healthy pangolin population filling out the extent of their natural range. Our work has begun to realize this vision but we need help, leaving room for you to be a part of it.
Photo by Will Clothier.
Donations for pangolin conservation will support their rehabilitation and release, monitoring equipment, patrol staff, and more. If you wish your donation to be for pangolins specifically, please add this comment when you make your donation.