The plight of the pangolin

Conservation in Namibia

Pangolins are scaly mammals which are predominantly nocturnal and solitary. There are four species in Asia and four in Africa. Their diet comprises specific species of ants and termites which they eat using their long sticky tongue – it is as long as their body. Pangolins do not have teeth and cannot bite, therefore their main defense against predators is to roll into a protective ball. They play an important role in the ecosystem as they consume a large number of insects which eat organic matter that feeds livestock and wildlife. In Namibia, the Temminck’s ground pangolin occurs across much of the country (apart from the most arid west and south). It is increasingly targeted by poachers, yet its status and ecological requirements are poorly understood.

The first-ever in-depth research project on pangolins in Namibia was an MSc Thesis focused on their home range size, prey preference, and burrow selectivity in central Namibia. Results show that pangolins are territorial and that there is a polygynous mating system. The home range of each male overlapps those of multiple females - similar to as it is with leopards. Additionally, they prefer only a small selection of ant and termite species out of the over 30 species usually available to them in a given area. They have also been observed to have different dietary preferences in different regions despite having similar prey species available. Pangolins do not dig their own burrows and select deep burrows dug and abandoned by aardvark, porcupine and warthog, usually over one metre deep. Deep burrows provide a thermal refuge from the hot summer days and cold winter nights, which helps the pangolin to save energy. Pangolins struggle during drought years. The AfriCat Pangolin Research Project found that in drought conditions all animals under 6 kg die of malnutrition and starvation.

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal world-wide due to the illegal trade in their meat and scales, the latter used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Scales are made of keratin, like human hair and nails, and have no medicinal properties.

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal world-wide due to the illegal trade in their meat and scales, the latter used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

All pangolin species are protected internationally under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and listed in Appendix I which recognises the species as threatened with possible extinction, the same protection given to rhinoceros. Under Namibian law having a pangolin or any part of a pangolin in your possession is seen as the same severe offence as possession of rhino horn. In both cases the fine is up to N$25,000,000 and/or 25 years imprisonment. In 2019, the authorities seized 121 pangolins, 49 alive and 72 dead.

Live pangolins confiscated from illegal traffickers are often emaciated, dehydrated and traumatised. To give them a good chance of survival, these animals require first aid at the time of seizure and specialised until their release. The Namibian Pangolin Working Group’s (NPWG) National Pangolin Conservation Management Plan has established clear guidelines for pangolin transport, care and rehabilitation and drawn up contact lists for veterinary clinics and other relevant organisations. They are distributed regionally along with a training curriculum aimed at first-responders from MEFT and the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL). The first training session, held in November 2020 for approximately 40 nature conservation officers, covered pangolin ecology and first-response measures for confiscated pangolins.

Additionally, the NPWG has facilitated collaboration between all sectors ranging from rural communities and farmers to law enforcement agencies, informers, nature conservation officials, government, veterinarians, rehabilitation facilities, researchers, non-governmental conservation organisations and donors. This has resulted in the release of a first GPS satellite tagged pangolin in Namibia in July 2020. Post-release monitoring is being conducted by the Pangolin Conservation and Research Project at the Biodiversity Research Centre, Namibia University of Science and Technology. Thus far, the female pangolin has settled into a home range and recently a resident male was observed in pursuit of her.

You can help by spreading awareness on the plight of the pangolin! Tell others about what you have learnt from this article and why pangolins are important. And please contact the wildlife crime hotline at 55 555 if you have any information on illegal capture, trade or trafficking in pangolins or their body parts.

Kelsey Prediger