Pangolins

Will they become the dodo of our generation?

- MIKE VAN ECK AND CATHERINE RITCHIE

World Pangolin Day, which was on 15 February, marked an important date in celebrating an enigmatic mammal species that is on the verge of becoming extinct. We find out why.

It is estimated that the African pangolin has existed for over 40 million years. Yet as you are reading this, you may be asking yourself: “But what is a pangolin?”

Many people have never heard of them – let alone seen one in real life. Sadly, this enigmatic species could become extinct before most people even realise they exist, due to a slew of factors threatening their survival. Illegal poaching, the bushmeat trade and habitat destruction are decimating their numbers.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A PANGOLIN?

Sometimes called scaly anteaters, they are strange-looking creatures. With the exception of their underbellies, their bodies are covered with protective, overlapping scales, which make up 20% of their body weight.

Despite their reptilian-like appearance, pangolins are in fact mammals and mature females can give birth to one pangopup each year. Pangolins lead secretive, solitary and largely nocturnal lives. They survive on an insectivorous diet, consisting mainly of ants and termites, and use their extraordinarily long, sticky tongues to forage for these morsels.

There are eight different pangolin species in the world. Four of the species occur in Asia and four are found in Africa, namely the giant ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla) and white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis).

The African pangolin species occupy a range of habitats from tropical rainforest to grassland and savannah in Southern, Central and East Africa.