Introducing the Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation

The Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation (PCRF) was founded in 2021 as a section 21 not-for-profit organisation to fill the gap in conservation efforts for pangolins. The PCRF’s aim is to ensure a sustainable future for pangolins through conservation, research, collaboration, education and awareness as well as community engagement and local empowerment.

Conservation research projects focus on subjects that help guide protocols and conservation management planning including research on resident pangolins and post-release monitoring of trafficked-released individuals for the Pangolin Conservation and Research Project (PCRP). PCRF is developing children’s educational materials to help raise awareness and improve education on the conservation of pangolins. Additionally, the organisation employs pangolin rangers in communities across the country to protect pangolins while supporting the community. Local students have the opportunity to work on pangolin-focused projects to empower them for a future in pangolin conservation.

So far, research on pangolins in Namibia is minimal. Therefore the PCRP plans to study all details of ecology and genetics about the Temminck’s ground pangolin in Namibia. The overall goal of this project is to understand the home range sizes, activity patterns, population dynamics, prey preference, and overall ecology of pangolins in priority habitat sites, and to gather further information about their behaviour and survival strategies. Furthermore, the project conducts post-release monitoring of trafficked-released pangolins in order to shed light on the survival rates and reintegration of those rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Genetic data will be utilised to determine the origin of seized pangolins and better understand their genetics. The end goal of collecting this data is to create biological baseline knowledge that can be applied to a national action plan and protocols or guidelines for ground pangolin and utilised across their range. Another very important objective is to increase awareness of the vulnerable status of southern Africa’s only pangolin species.

In its first year, PCRP has tagged five trafficked-released pangolins for post-release monitoring and three resident pangolins for baseline ecological research. Learning more about the species in their habitat is essential for conservation planning. The two most recent releases have demonstrated positive settling behaviour and their home ranges are comparable to that of resident pangolin ranges.

WORLD PANGOLIN DAY

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal worldwide. The number of pangolin cases registered annually in Namibia surpasses that of rhino and elephant combined. World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of February and it is a great opportunity to highlight the plight of the pangolin and what can be done to help. Join PCRF this year as we celebrate pangolins!

WHEN: 19 th February, all day

WHERE: Eagles Beer Garden and Avis Dam

WHAT: Fun Run, market, pangolin themed activities, and live entertainment

For more details visit: fb.me/e/2lMkbPI7D Tickets available on Webtickets

Kelsey Prediger