Why Pangolins Are So Special
#Pangolins of #Africa and Asia are the world’s most trafficked animal. Tragically they are disappearing due to illegal poaching as well as habitat loss for agribusiness like #palmoil. They get their name from the Malay word pengguling, which translates to “rolling up” in reference to their balled-up protective pose when threatened. Pangolins play an essential part in ecosystem health, keeping insects in check with their highly sensitive tongues and sense of smell. These remarkable and critically endangered animals deserve a break from savage and cruel #poaching and palm oil #deforestation. Help them when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
The remarkable #pangolin is named ‘pengguling’ in Malay. Looking like a #pokemon or a scaly #dragon 🐉 they rid ecosystems in #Africa and #Asia of excess insects. Help them survive, be #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect wp.me/pcFhgU-92l
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Written by Olajumoke Morenikeji, Professor Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Pangolins play a vital role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations, particularly ants and termites, which helps maintain ecological balance.
Pangolins are fascinating creatures known for their unique appearance and distinctive scales. They are mammals belonging to the order Pholidota and are native to Africa and Asia. Due to their primary diet of ants and termites, pangolins are often referred to as “scaly anteaters”.
The African pangolin species are dispersed throughout southern, western, central and east Africa.
Pangolins face rapid declines across Asia and Africa, with all eight species classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. They are threatened by poaching and habitat loss, driven by the demand for their meat and scales.
Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammal in the world. Their meat is considered a delicacy in Asia while their scales are also used in traditional medicines, fetching huge sums on the black market. As many as 8.5 million pangolins are estimated to have been removed from the wild in west and central Africa for the illegal trade between 2014 and 2021.
The trade route analysis of pangolin trafficking points to Lagos as the main connection point both domestically and worldwide, including south-east Asian countries. Malaysia, Laos and Singapore also serve as key transit countries for pangolin-scale shipments from Nigeria.
China and Vietnam are the main destinations for these illegal shipments.
I am a zoologist who’s passionate about the environment and biodiversity conservation. I am also the founder and chair of Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria. In my view, effective protection, law enforcement and changes in consumer behaviour are necessary to address the complex drivers of poaching and trafficking.
What makes pangolins special
Pangolins are interesting for a number of reasons.
Scales: Unlike any other mammals, they are covered with keratin scales. This adaptation is a defence against predators. The scales, made of the same material as human fingernails, provide armour-like protection as they curl into a ball when threatened, shielding their vulnerable underbelly. The scales can account for up to 20% of a pangolin’s total body weight. A pangolin’s scales are a reminder of the incredible diversity of adaptations in the natural world.

Habitats: Pangolins, as a group, are also adaptable to different environmental conditions. Their habitats include tropical forests, dry woodlands and savannahs. Some pangolin species, like the white-bellied, are adept climbers and spend much of their time in the canopy, foraging for insects among the branches. These arboreal habits provide them with both food and shelter, as well as protection from ground-dwelling predators. Other pangolin species, such as the ground pangolins, live on the forest floor or in grasslands. They may dig burrows underground where they retreat for rest and safety, particularly during the heat of the day or to escape potential threats.
Defence: The name “pangolin” originates from the Malay word pengguling, which translates to “rolling up”. They tuck in their head and limbs and curl into a tight ball when faced with danger, wrapping their body in a protective layer of overlapping scales. This has helped pangolins survive predators such as big cats, hyenas and humans.
Diet: Pangolins primarily feed on ants and termites, making them essential players in controlling insect populations within their ecosystems. They find the insects using their keen sense of smell and their tongues – which are often longer than their bodies. These long tongues are coated with sticky saliva, allowing them to probe deep into ant and termite nests to extract their prey. Their strong claws are also well-suited for tearing open insect nests and breaking through hard soil to uncover hidden prey. Pangolins’ diets play a crucial role in maintaining the health and stability of their environments.
Pangolins in Africa
In west and central Africa, the giant pangolin is distributed in a variety of habitats, including primary and secondary forests, swamp forests and wooded savannahs. Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) is the most widely distributed African pangolin, occurring mainly in southern and east Africa. The black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla) is an arboreal pangolin species, and occurs in west and central Africa. The white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) is the most frequently encountered pangolin in Africa. The white-bellied pangolin is found in north-central and south-western Nigeria.
White-bellied Pangolin Phataginus tricuspis
In Nigeria, pangolins are found in various habitats, including forests, savannahs and grasslands. Their distribution and abundance in Nigeria are uncertain, highlighting the need for further research and conservation efforts.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, serves as a hub for the illegal trade of pangolins. It is a transit route to Cameroon and is involved in shipments of pangolins from sub-Saharan Africa to Asia. Cameroon is at the centre of wildlife trafficking in central Africa. It is both a source country of animal products as well as a transit route for contraband from neighbouring Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.
In 2022, Nigerian customs officials seized 1,613 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrested 14 people. In October 2023, Nigeria burned four tonnes of seized pangolin scales, valued at US$1.4 million. Officials said this was the first time they had publicly destroyed seized wildlife products to discourage illegal trafficking.
Why pangolin conservation is important
Pangolin conservation is crucial for several reasons.
Firstly, pangolins play a vital role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations, particularly ants and termites, which helps maintain ecological balance.
They also contribute to soil health through their digging behaviour, which aerates the soil and promotes nutrient cycling.
Moreover, pangolins are indicators of ecosystem health. Their presence or absence can reflect the overall well-being of their habitats. Protecting pangolins helps safeguard biodiversity and the integrity of their ecosystems.
They also have cultural and economic value in many regions, contributing to ecotourism.
Written by Olajumoke Morenikeji, Professor Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
ENDS

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Giant Pangolin Smutsia gigantea
Giant Pangolin Smutsia gigantea
Endangered
Extant (resident)
Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d’Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland)); Gabon; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone; South Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Uganda
Presence Uncertain
Benin; Burkina Faso; Kenya; Niger
The Giant #Pangolin is are the largest and heaviest of the pangolin species weighing up to 33 kilos. Males can be up to 1.8 metres long. These majestic creature are cloaked in keratin armour and embark on nightly quests through Central and #WestAfrica’s lush landscapes. By the light of the moon, they use their keen sense of smell to hunt down ants and termites. As they navigate a world fraught with dangers from habitat destruction, #poaching and illegal hunting, the survival of these enigmatic beings hangs in balance, urging us to reflect on our impact on their dwindling world. Help them to survive every single time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycottmeat, be #vegan and #Boycott4Wildlife.
The largest and heaviest #pangolin in the world is the Giant Pangolin of #Uganda 🇺🇬 #Congo 🇨🇩 #WestAfrica. Endangered by #palmoil and #cocoa #deforestation and #poaching Help them survive when u #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect wp.me/pcFhgU-7jM
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Help the #endangered Giant Ground #Pangolin 🙏🌿 of #Africa and boycott #Chinese medicine using them. Spoiler alert: their scales DO NOT CURE ANYTHING! Another threat is #palmoil #deforestation #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect wp.me/pcFhgU-7jM
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youtu.be/WNcbS9y0rUE
Giant pangolins have several quirky traits: they consume up to 70 million insects annually, primarily through nocturnal feasts, and lack teeth, instead swallowing stones to aid digestion. They walk on the sides of their wrists to protect their claws and have a keen sense of smell to compensate for their poor vision.
Appearance & Behaviour
Unique among mammals, their scales are made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails. These account for around 20% of their body weight. These characteristics underscore their unique ecological niche and fascinating adaptations.
The Giant Pangolin is the largest of all pangolin species. With males measuring around 1.8 meters in length and females reaching up to 1.36 meters in length.
Their bodies are adorned with thick, keratin scales that serve as armour against predators. These scales, combined with their significant size, set them apart as majestic creatures of the west African jungle.
Giant Pangolins are nocturnal and rely upon their exceptional sense of smell to locate the 19 specific species of ants and termites that comprise their diet. Despite their poor eyesight, they are adept at navigating their diverse habitats, from forested swamps to moist tropical forests across Central and West Africa. Their methodical consumption of insects, aided by ingesting small stones for digestion, highlights their crucial ecological role as pest controllers.








Threats
- Hunting and Poaching: The primary threat to Giant Pangolins comes from hunting and poaching for bushmeat and traditional medicine. This significantly impacts their populations across Africa.
- Bushmeat: These animals are desirable on the illegal bushmeat markets, contributing to an increased pressure on their numbers.
- Illegal International Trade: Despite protections, a substantial illegal trade persists, with significant quantities of scales trafficked internationally, posing a major threat to their survival.
- Habitat Loss: Deforestation and habitat degradation for palm oil, meat and cocoa along with mining especially in West Africa, pose severe threats to their habitats, impacting their area of occupancy and survival rates.


Habitat
The Giant Pangolin inhabits a diverse range of environments across Africa, from primary and secondary rainforests to gallery and swamp forests, as well as forest-savannah mosaics and wooded savannahs. Their presence extends from sea level in Gabon to high altitudes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, indicating a versatile adaptation to various ecosystems. This species is thought to rely on access to permanent water sources. Their wide geographic range underscores the importance of varied habitats for their survival, from Uganda’s savannah woodlands to Tanzania’s miombo woodlands.
Diet
The Giant Pangolin’s diet is highly specialised and focuses almost exclusively on ants and termites. They are capable of consuming around 70 million insects per year. They are therefore known as the forest ecosystem’s natural pest controllers. Their eating habits are unique, involving up to 90 meals in a single night, with each meal lasting about a minute. This efficient feeding strategy is facilitated by their long, sticky tongues, adept at extracting insects from nests, despite the pangolins’ lack of teeth, requiring them to ingest small stones to aid in grinding their food.
Mating and breeding
Giant pangolins have a unique reproductive cycle, with little known about their breeding habits. They usually give birth once, following a gestation of around 140 days, to a single young that is born with open eyes and soft scales. These newborns, weighing about 500g, initially move on their bellies and display a defense mechanism by secreting a yellow substance from their anal glands. The mother’s care extends to nursing for 3-4 months and includes carrying the young on her tail during foraging. This intimate parenting underscores the species’ complex social behaviors within their habitats, spanning from rainforests to savannah woodlands, indicating a reliance on diverse ecosystems and possibly on permanent water sources.

Support Giant Pangolins by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Gorongosa National Park: Pangolin rehabilitation programme
Further Information
Nixon, S., Pietersen, D., Challender, D., Hoffmann, M., Godwill Ichu, I., Bruce, T., Ingram, D.J., Matthews, N. & Shirley, M.H. 2019. Smutsia gigantea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12762A123584478. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.201…. Accessed on 29 February 2024.
Quaglia, Sofia; Endangered giant pangolin spotted in Senegal after nearly 24 years. Nature.
Giant Pangolin Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_pa…
Giant Pangolin Animalia.bio: animalia.bio/giant-pangolin


Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Join 3,179 other subscribers
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.

Read more

Read more

Read more

Read more

Read more

Read more
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status…
twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status…
twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1…
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support
Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
Global
South America
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India
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West Papua & PNG

Keep reading

Keep reading

Keep reading

Keep reading

Keep reading

Keep reading
Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing
Read more about RSPO greenwashing
Lying
Fake labels
Indigenous Land-grabbing
Human rights abuses
Deforestation
Human health hazards
A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)
Read more





#Africa #animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #Cameroon #Chinese #cocoa #Congo #COP16 #deforestation #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #EquatorialGuinea #Gabon #Ghana #GiantPangolinSmutsiaGigantea #hunting #Mammal #Nigeria #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #pangolin #poaching #pokemon #pokemons #Rwanda #Tanzania #Uganda #vegan #WestAfrica
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