Pangolins: Species on the Brink
Image Source: “Pangolin” PBS Nature, retrieved from:
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/group/mammals/pangolin/
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/group/mammals/pangolin/
Written by Milian Chen
In today’s society, human influence on the world is a big issue. Many aspects of nature have changed - for example, rising ocean levels, warmer temperatures, and many others. Especially the creatures we share our planet with — animals. Many of them are under threat, some because of habitat destruction, pollution, illegal trade, and more. But some need our help more than ever before.
Rhinos, tigers, and giant pandas — you’ve probably heard articles about how these animals are endangered and in need of our help. But what about the pangolin? This animal is just as in need of help from us as the others do — if not more. Through a research project I did last year, the majority of the people have never seen or heard of a pangolin before. 44.7 % of them mistaken the pangolin for an armadillo, even though they are not related. This is a problem, because if people do not even know what pangolins are, they won’t be able to help them
So what are pangolins?
Pangolins are members of the mammalian family, though some think they are reptilian, because of their scales. There are eight species of pangolins, with subspecies underneath. Four of the species live in Africa, and the other four live in Asia respectively. They are insectivores, meaning they eat insects — their diet consists mainly of ants, and occasionally termites. They can eat up to 70,000,000 ants in a year! Because of this, they often have the nickname “Scaly Anteater”. Some species of pangolins have prehensile tails (found in the arboreal species) that help them climb up trees to pry open ant nests. As you might know, anteaters such as the Giant Anteater have very long tongues, and so do pangolins! Their tongue is as long as their body, because unlike humans, whose tongue ends at the bottom of the mouth, theirs end at the bottom of their ribcage. They are also the only true mammal with scales. Their scales are made up of keratin, just like your nails, hair, and rhino horns. Like an armadillo, the pangolin can roll itself up into a ball, using its 1,000+ scales to protect itself! When rolled up, even a strong animal like a lion cannot pry them open. These scales take up 20% of its body weight.
So what is the issue? Why are they in need of help and protection?
All pangolin species have been suffering from one common threat — illegal trafficking. Pangolins, not rhinos or elephants, are the most trafficked animal on this planet. Every five minutes a pangolin is taken from its habitat in the wild! On the black market there are many pangolin products, such as a whole pangolin (frozen-for meat), scales, blood, parts of pangolins, pangolin tongues, and likely many others! These illegal products are shipped all across the world. The poaching doesn’t just take place in Africa and Asia, as previously thought. The main issue is pangolin scales: some people hold onto the belief that these scales have medicinal value, with the ability to treat a variety of ailments. Pangolins’ skin has also been taken into interest. The unique pattern their skin possesses has attracted the view of the fashion industry. In the past, they were even made into cowboy boots! (Credit: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/) In this past decade, more than 1,000,000 pangolins have been killed.
Into the heart of the issue: Scales and Origins
There have been many seizures of pangolin scales this year. In January, 9 tons of pangolin scales have been found in Hong Kong, in February, 30 tons of scales in Sabah, Malaysia, in April, 28+ tons in altogether in Singapore, and in July, another 12 tons in Singapore. This was all in 2019! There have been international bans, yet these things are still occurring in our modern day society. At this pace, Maria Diekmann, founder of REST Namibia (aimed to save many African species) says “We’ve got a very good chance of losing pangolins within the next decade.”
Conclusion
This critically endangered animal is in need of our help. Please tell as many people as possible about pangolins and why they need to save them. You can do many things such as donating to foundations aimed to save these animals such as Save Pangolins, and many more. The more people know, the better so that there is a chance that we can save this rapidly disappearing species.
Websites for further information on pangolins:
https://protectpangolins.wordpress.com/
https://www.savepangolins.org/
http://protectpangolins.org
https://www.restnamibia.org/
In today’s society, human influence on the world is a big issue. Many aspects of nature have changed - for example, rising ocean levels, warmer temperatures, and many others. Especially the creatures we share our planet with — animals. Many of them are under threat, some because of habitat destruction, pollution, illegal trade, and more. But some need our help more than ever before.
Rhinos, tigers, and giant pandas — you’ve probably heard articles about how these animals are endangered and in need of our help. But what about the pangolin? This animal is just as in need of help from us as the others do — if not more. Through a research project I did last year, the majority of the people have never seen or heard of a pangolin before. 44.7 % of them mistaken the pangolin for an armadillo, even though they are not related. This is a problem, because if people do not even know what pangolins are, they won’t be able to help them
So what are pangolins?
Pangolins are members of the mammalian family, though some think they are reptilian, because of their scales. There are eight species of pangolins, with subspecies underneath. Four of the species live in Africa, and the other four live in Asia respectively. They are insectivores, meaning they eat insects — their diet consists mainly of ants, and occasionally termites. They can eat up to 70,000,000 ants in a year! Because of this, they often have the nickname “Scaly Anteater”. Some species of pangolins have prehensile tails (found in the arboreal species) that help them climb up trees to pry open ant nests. As you might know, anteaters such as the Giant Anteater have very long tongues, and so do pangolins! Their tongue is as long as their body, because unlike humans, whose tongue ends at the bottom of the mouth, theirs end at the bottom of their ribcage. They are also the only true mammal with scales. Their scales are made up of keratin, just like your nails, hair, and rhino horns. Like an armadillo, the pangolin can roll itself up into a ball, using its 1,000+ scales to protect itself! When rolled up, even a strong animal like a lion cannot pry them open. These scales take up 20% of its body weight.
So what is the issue? Why are they in need of help and protection?
All pangolin species have been suffering from one common threat — illegal trafficking. Pangolins, not rhinos or elephants, are the most trafficked animal on this planet. Every five minutes a pangolin is taken from its habitat in the wild! On the black market there are many pangolin products, such as a whole pangolin (frozen-for meat), scales, blood, parts of pangolins, pangolin tongues, and likely many others! These illegal products are shipped all across the world. The poaching doesn’t just take place in Africa and Asia, as previously thought. The main issue is pangolin scales: some people hold onto the belief that these scales have medicinal value, with the ability to treat a variety of ailments. Pangolins’ skin has also been taken into interest. The unique pattern their skin possesses has attracted the view of the fashion industry. In the past, they were even made into cowboy boots! (Credit: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/) In this past decade, more than 1,000,000 pangolins have been killed.
Into the heart of the issue: Scales and Origins
There have been many seizures of pangolin scales this year. In January, 9 tons of pangolin scales have been found in Hong Kong, in February, 30 tons of scales in Sabah, Malaysia, in April, 28+ tons in altogether in Singapore, and in July, another 12 tons in Singapore. This was all in 2019! There have been international bans, yet these things are still occurring in our modern day society. At this pace, Maria Diekmann, founder of REST Namibia (aimed to save many African species) says “We’ve got a very good chance of losing pangolins within the next decade.”
Conclusion
This critically endangered animal is in need of our help. Please tell as many people as possible about pangolins and why they need to save them. You can do many things such as donating to foundations aimed to save these animals such as Save Pangolins, and many more. The more people know, the better so that there is a chance that we can save this rapidly disappearing species.
Websites for further information on pangolins:
https://protectpangolins.wordpress.com/
https://www.savepangolins.org/
http://protectpangolins.org
https://www.restnamibia.org/
Works cited
- “Singapore seizes elephant ivory and pangolin scales in record $48m haul.” BBC News, 23 July 2019, retrieved from:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49079720 - “Pangolins: One of the world’s least known and most hunted animals” Fauna & Flora International, 9 August 2017, retrieved from:
https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/pangolins-one-of-the-worlds-least-known-and-most-hunted-animals?gclid=Cj0KCQjwh6XmBRDRARIsAKNInDFTr9SsyhuImitd6NSxEuXlc5a6IQsjR1iujjr8r0kGPAETRiceJS0aAhoJEALw_wcB