Saturday, February 21 is World Pangolin Day! This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about this imperiled species and spread some hope for a brighter future for pangolins.
All about Pangolins
Also known as scaly anteaters, there are eight different species of pangolin found across Africa and Asia. Apart from their face and belly, pangolins are the only mammal in the world to be covered in hard overlapping scales. These scales are made of keratin (the same substance that forms human hair and nails) and are used as a defense mechanism. When a pangolin feels threatened it curls up into a scaly armor-plated ball to protect itself from predators. While some pangolins are arboreal, living almost entirely in trees, others, such as the giant ground pangolin, live in burrows on the ground. The favorite food of this insectivorous animal is termites, which pangolins find by using their large forefeet to rip open termite mounds.
Fun fact: pangolins walk bipedally! They walk on their hind legs with the front limbs and tail used as a counterbalance. They do this because their long-clawed forelegs are great at digging in termite mounds but not so useful to walk with.
Pangolins Are Under Threat
Unfortunately, while a pangolin’s scales can offer protection from lions and leopards, they are no match for the greatest predator of all – humans. All pangolins are listed on CITES Appendix I, making commercial international trade in them illegal. However, illegal trade in the species is widespread, with pangolins now being titled ‘most trafficked mammal.’
Pangolin traffickers operate in large, organized, transnational criminal groups. They traffic pangolin scales alongside other illicit products, including ivory, reptiles, big cats, primates, precious metals, and gems. Large seizures of pangolins are multiplying in Central and West Africa. This is because the main demand, from China and South-East Asia, can no longer be satisfied by the local Asian pangolin populations, which are now perilously close to localized extinction across the region.
Born Free USA Is Working to Protect Pangolins
West Africa has shown determination to combat all forms of wildlife trafficking, including the trafficking of pangolins. Organized criminal groups that once trafficked species with impunity are now facing a more organized resistance. In 2023, West African countries adopted the West Africa Strategy on Combating Wildlife Crime and several countries in the region have now established National Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Forces (WLETFs), multi-agency enforcement units specialized in tracking down wildlife traffickers. With diversified and complementary expertise, these Task Forces enable countries to better stand up to criminals trafficking pangolins.
Born Free USA has been supporting West African countries since 2018 to enhance their ability to combat wildlife crime. We have provided training to judges, prosecutors, customs, police and forestry officers from all 15 West African countries, and we have supported the development of National Wildlife Crime Strategies and Task Forces across the region.
Stay up to date on Born Free USA’s work to save pangolins and other wildlife in West Africa by joining our email list!
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
Shelley
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The Born Free USA Team
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