Coiled into a ball so perfect that its whorls made an Archimedean spiral, the creature at the bottom of the burrow was as complex and confounding as any ancient mathematical equation. Even with the assistance of a telemetry tracking device, we’d spent an hour looking for this living fossil, whose ancestors have slipped through the shadows of the African bush for 85 million years. Stealthier than a secret agent, these are one of the safari’s great enigmas, making it even harder to comprehend how they’ve become one of the most trafficked animals in the world.
One of four pangolin species living in Africa, the Temmink’s is probably the most numerous – although no-one really has a clear idea of how many are left. Rarely spotted on game drives, the ant-eating mammals are more often seen dead than alive, with images of confiscated carcasses in freight containers bringing the mini dinosaurs to worldwide attention. Prized for their meat and use of scales in traditional medicine, Asia’s own four species have depleted by an estimated 94%. Now, alarmingly, poachers are targeting populations elsewhere, with an estimated 300 African pangolins disappearing every day.
Esta historia es de la edición March/April 2021 de Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
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Esta historia es de la edición March/April 2021 de Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
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Vermont, USA
The Wanderlust team relocated to New England for part of this issue, as we explored a lush state filled with outdoor escapes, historic towns... and lashings of maple syrup
Unique North America
See a side to the USA and Canada beyond the big cities and discover incredible stories and special wildlife with our pick of the trips
The call of the Rockies
From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
When the Garifuna people settled in Belize, they had to carry their traditions and culture with them; now a new trail is inviting visitors to explore this heritage through local communities
On the edge of history
In south-west Colorado lies the largest archaeological preserve in the USA, a series of vast cliff dwellings whose residents 'vanished' overnight. But was the answer to their disappearance in plain sight?
Tigers burning bright
As India celebrates 50 years of its Project Tiger conservation scheme, we visit the reserves of Madhya Pradesh to see how its success has impacted a tiger population that once looked in danger of disappearing
SEASON'S GREETINGS
From fiery fall foliage to art fairs and harvest festivals, opens up a wealth of across the USA and Canada autumn experiences
Waking a sleeping GIANT
A slow drive along the North Wales Way, from the English border to Anglesey, reveals not only a land of incredible local food and castles, but a region that is slowly reimagining itself
The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
Wilderness, history and wildlife combine at some of Britain's most iconic stargazing sites, as more and more travellers are looking to the heavens
