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.
Electric fences are popular and cost-effective for controlling animal movement on game reserves, private game farms, nature reserves and commercial livestock farms in South Africa. While they may be effective for controlling large animals like antelope or livestock, they can result in the mortality of smaller animals like pangolins.
The Temminck’s Ground Pangolin, native to South Africa, is bipedal and often walks on its two hind legs with its front legs and tail held above the ground. If they come into contact with electric fencing, the pangolin’s defense mechanism is to roll into a ball, wrapping around the live wire, which often leads to death. Electrical fencing poses a significant threat to other wildlife species as well, including tortoises, snakes, chameleons, and small antelope.
Pangolin.Africa is working in collaboration with Tikki Hywood Foundation, the Kalahari Wildlife Project and Staffix – and funded by Save Pangolins – to implement a groundbreaking new system of electrical fencing that would prevent accidental electrocution of pangolins and other wildlife. The project includes various study sites and habitats around South Africa where they will be testing and monitoring the new fencing technology for a minimum of 12 months while recording pangolin and other animal behavior to ensure its effectiveness.
Ultimately, Panglin.Africa and partners are working to improve current electrical fencing in order to reduce and eradicate pangolin-related deaths and hopes that the project will create a new precedent for future fencing to include pangolin-friendly measures as standard practice.
Click here to read more about Pangolin Friendly Farm Fencing.
All photos © Pangolin.Africa.
