Gabi Bellairs-Lombard

TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO PANGOLINS THIS WORLD PANGOLIN DAY Keywords: world pangolin day, pangolin trafficking It should be common knowledge by now that the African pangolin is the most trafficked wild animal in the world, but unfortunately it is estimated that 65-70% of the world’s population don’t even know what a pangolin is. They are trafficked by poachers with the mythical belief that the pangolin’s scales have medicinal benefits – a belief so firm in China that pangolin scale medicine was covered by health insurance up until as recent as August 2019 – and is considered a culinary delicacy. However, we are thankful that there are more and more initiatives being created that are geared towards the conservation of the pangolin. It is important that we at least use one day of the year, World Pangolin Day, to raise awareness surrounding this special mammal, and keeping the dwindling population alive. Some scary statistics about pangolin trafficking Although many governments and local jurisdictions have tried to implement ways to dampen the demand of pangolins and their scales, the number of pangolins that are still trafficked is alarming. In December 2019 alone, 10 tonnes of African pangolin scales were seized in China – this is the equivalent of nearly 14 000 pangolins. For an animal whose population numbers are dangerously low, one seizure like this can put a huge dent in the remaining numbers. Although a seizure like this is great because it shows Chinese authorities are taking the issue seriously, it is also terrifying to know such huge quantities of pangolin scales are still reaching the country. Illegal wildlife trafficking is the fourth most lucrative global crime after drugs, humans and arms, with pangolin trafficking topping wildlife crimes in 2019 in Malawi alone. According to Lisa Rolls, the coordinator of UNEP’s Wild for Life campaign, the trafficking of pangolins is “directly contributing to the biodiversity emergency” we see in all corners of the world. Efforts towards saving the pangolin Some have said that this is an African problem. If that is the case, then there will be African solutions by Africans themselves. Individuals and organisations in Africa where the four different types of African pangolins live – the Giant Ground Pangolin in Central African Republic, the Temminck Ground Pangolin in Southern Africa, the Black-Bellied Pangolin in Central and West Africa, and the White-Bellied Pangolin in Ghana – are putting a concerted effort into conserving this endearing animal. The Pangolin Men of the Tikki Hywood Foundation rehabilitate pangolins, taking care of them as if they are their children, in order to release them back into the wild. They have developed relationships with every pangolin they care for since rescuing them from poachers, feeding them and walking them with the only aim of protecting them. In other countries, locals have been trained to view the pangolin as more than just a mammal sharing the same earth, but as a living thing that we simply cannot be without, and that this requires their constant watch and protection. Why we need pangolins It is important to not only consider the dire abuse of another living thing, but the consequences to the planet should this species be wiped out. The Eye of the Pangolin documentary by South African filmmakers Bruce Young and Johan Vermeulen highlights the ecological importance of keeping the pangolin on the planet, with insights shared by pangolin researchers and lovers from South Africa to Ghana. As seen in the documentary, Lisa Hywood (of the Tikki Hywood Foundation) explains that pangolins are considered ‘keystone species’ where, without them, our landscapes would change entirely. Lisa lovingly dubbed the scaly anteaters as ‘earth’s great gardeners’, ensuring crucial control over the various ecosystems they exist in by eating termites and ants that would strip the natural environment if they continue to live in such abundance, unopposed by our beloved pangolins. Although it is human beings to blame for the threatened status of the species, it also human beings who are rallying together, throwing their hearts into ensuring the pangolins remain part of our world. We are especially grateful that people like silversmith Patrick Mavros falls under this category, donating a portion of sales from his Pangolin Jewellery collection to the Tikki Hywood Foundation, as well as the Ardmore artists who recreate the pangolin in the form of ceramic sculptures so beautifully. These pieces are available for purchase on our website – having one in your home will constantly remind you of their beauty and uniqueness and that, if we don’t act now, artists such as the ones at Ardmore will run out of subject matter.