5 interesting facts about Pangolins
"...Pangolins have existed for approximately 80 million years but most people haven’t heard of them....Did you know that pangolins hold the record for the most trafficked mammal in the world?
The pangolin might look like the offspring of a pinecone & artichoke but it needs our love, now more than ever. It’s time to get to know these uniquely amazing animals.
A diet of ants - Bon appétit!
Pangolins are also known as 'scaly anteaters' because…you guessed it, they feed on ants. They are insectivorous, so their diet also includes termites, larvae, & other small insects.
Using their long snouts & tongues, they can feed on up to 70 million insects every year.
Thick skinned
Pangolin scales are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up our own hair & nails & many animals’ claws. The scales cover almost their whole body (except their underside) & they make up roughly 20% of their body weight.
Their name, 'pangolin', is derived from the Malay word 'pengguling', which loosely translates to 'something that rolls up' – & indeed, they do! To defend themselves when feeling threatened, the small mammals roll up in a ball, similarly to hedgehogs & armadillos.
Lots of distant cousins
There are 8 species of pangolins (4 Asian & 4 African), & they can be found in 51 different countries, living in trees or burrows.
One more fact
The biggest threat to pangolins is humans. These animals are hunted & killed for their scales to be sold on the black market, for use in Traditional Asian Medicine. All 8 species of pangolins are featured on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, on par with rhinos & tigers. Even environmental & animal advocate David Attenborough named them in his list of top 10 endangered animals.
What World Animal Protection is doing to save pangolins
The commercial trade of pangolin parts is forbidden under CITES as of 2016. Despite such restrictions, the demand for these parts continues to rise, putting worldwide pangolin populations at risk.
To combat this global trade & protect the world’s pangolins, we’re calling for:
- Stronger enforcement of national & international laws
- Removal of pangolins from the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China – the traditional medicine handbook for the industry
- Investment in & promotion of herbal & synthetic alternatives
- Combined & coordinated efforts by governments, NGOs, & the traditional Asian medicine community to eliminate consumer demand for pangolin-based medicines, particularly in China & Vietnam
- Support for alternative livelihoods, alleviation of poverty & education programs within rural communities wherever pangolins are found globally, to stop their slaughter.
Pangolins are on the brink of extinction..."
worldanimalprotection.ca
19/02/2022
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