More stories from the Pangolin Champions. In this post, we hear from Dr. Mark Ofua, who works with Saint Mark’s Animal Hospital in Nigeria to rescue, rehabilitate, and release pangolins to protected forests; and Carla Mousset who has been working in Gabon to inspire leadership in pangolin conservation by engaging people and communities in the creation of a Gabon Pangolin Working Group.
World Pangolin Day 2023: Conversations with Pangolin Champions - Part 1
What is it like to save pangolins around the world? In celebration of World Pangolin Day, we spoke with two of our Pangolin Champions: Kumar Paudel, who works in Nepal to document threats and enhance public engagement to save pangolins and Elisa Panjang, who works in Malaysia to reduce poaching and address illegal wildlife trade of pangolins.
Sir David Attenborough on the Plight of Pangolins
Sir David Attenborough lends his voice to pangolins in honor of World Pangolin Day 2022, in an article and video originally posted by TRAFFIC.
Mongabay: "‘Superstitious belief kills pangolins’: Q&A with biologist Elisa Panjang"
Pangolin Champion Elisa Panjang is working to advance conservation efforts for Sunda pangolins in Malaysia. She spends long hours in the field tracking pangolins to inform her understanding of remaining populations and distribution. In addition to field work, she is involved in both local and global efforts to raise awareness for the species, which are currently listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Mongabay: "Tracking white-bellied pangolins in Nigeria, the new global trafficking hub"
Pangolin Champion Charles Emogor is currently studying white-bellied pangolins in Nigeria and working with local communities to reduce threats to the endangered species. This article by Mongabay takes a closer look at his work, the current status of pangolins in Nigeria, and why projects like his are crucial to save these species from extinction.
Saving Pangolins from Electric Fencing in South Africa
The global illegal market for pangolin meat and scales is threatening pangolins around the world, but in South Africa they face an additional threat: electric fences. Accidental electrocution on electrified fences in rural areas leads to as many as 1,000 pangolin deaths annually. But that may change with the new Pangolin Friendly Farm Fencing project being led by our partner Pangolin.Africa.
Rhino Revolution is Raising Awareness for Pangolins
Rhino Revolution, a grantee of Save Pangolins, has been working to raise the profile of pangolins in South Africa and integrate pangolin conservation into their work to support and protect rhino and other endangered species. With Save Pangolins’ support, Rhino Revolution launched the Pangolin Protection Program in 2021, a holistic approach to conservation that works closely with community outreach, anti-poaching, educational specialists and pangolin rehab organizations.
Online Pangolin Trafficking Is on the Rise
Early on in the pandemic, as governments announced shelter in place orders and trade restrictions, illegal wildlife trade became strained. Global attention turned to wildlife consumption and trade as the possible source for Covid-19 and in response, wildlife traffickers started to have difficulty selling their products.
Life-Long Pangolin Conservationist Thai Nguyen Awarded with the Prestigious 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize is awarded every year to six individuals in recognition of their major contributions to the world’s gravest environmental challenges. These individuals are largely grassroots environmental activists whose dedication has inspired and mobilized others around the world to join their cause and create change. Since 1990, the Goldman Environmental Prize has recognized six global citizens, chosen to represent the world’s six inhabited continental regions, who are connected by a common thread: dedication to protecting the natural world.
A Look Back at World Pangolin Day 2021
World Pangolin Day is the third Saturday in February and each year it is a day that the global pangolin community comes together in celebration of these unique and wonderful animals. There are many ways one can celebrate pangolins. This year, we hosted Run For Pangolins, our first ever virtual charity run and were blown away by the support we received.
Nepal’s frontline communities need help and resources to save pangolins
Run For Pangolins - World Pangolin Day 2021
Join us in celebrating World Pangolin Day 2021 with Run for Pangolins, a virtual charity run. After a year that has made us all feel disconnected from each other, we are bringing together pangolin fans from around the globe with this virtual celebration.
Meet the Bold New Champions Dedicated to Saving Pangolins
Pangolins are the ultimate underdog: harmless to humans, yet poached and sold by the thousands each year. Tragically, they have become the most trafficked wild mammals on earth. What’s more, most people around the world still don’t know about pangolins and that each of the eight species is threatened with extinction.
Today, more than ever, pangolins need champions.
National Geographic Reports 2019 as a Record High Year for Pangolin Trafficking Seizures
According to new data obtained by National Geographic, 2019 was a record high year for pangolin trafficking seizures. The data comes from a transnational security report by the nonprofit Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), showing that trafficking of African pangolins into Asia has risen exponentially in 2019. “Worldwide, more than 128 tons were intercepted-an increase of more than 200 percent from five years earlier.”
Save Pangolins Celebrates the Lives of Willy Thomas and Martin Hega, two Pangolin Champions with Lasting Legacies
Wildlife Conservation Society: “Has Vietnam banned the wildlife trade to curb the risk of future pandemics?”
WildAid: "Vietnam’s Prime Minister issues new wildlife directive, shows strong leadership in protecting species and global health"
Save Pangolins applauds Vietnam for their new directive to restrict wildlife trade and consumption with urgent and powerful measures to reduce further pandemic risk and to save pangolins and other threatened species. We are proud to partner with Wildlife Conservation Network to lead The Pangolin Crisis Fund (PCF). In March, PCF issued a special $1 million grant to WildAid for a multi-faceted campaign aimed at reducing wildlife consumption, especially of pangolins, and building public support for the closure of wildlife markets and restaurants serving illegal wildlife throughout Asia. Just weeks later, the Government of Vietnam has united its ministries and agencies in a commitment to end wildlife trade and consumption.
The Pangolin Crisis Fund Expands Protection for Pangolin Landscapes
The Pangolin Crisis Fund, now in its second year of existence has recently funded two new conservation projects for pangolins with an aim to protect landscapes where important pangolin populations still exist. Both projects hope to increase our ecological understanding of pangolins and use this information to strategize more robust protection and conservation programs.
BBC NEWS: "Hope for pangolins as protection boosted in China"
China Upgrades Protection Status for Pangolins
The government of China has upgraded protection status of Chinese and Sunda pangolins to National Level I, the highest form of protection in the country, effective immediately.
Under this first class status in China, pangolins are given multi-faceted protections: the government will allocate more resources to monitoring pangolin populations in the wild, increase patrols to prevent poaching, and strengthen protection of their habitat.