World Pangolin Day falls on the 20 February. In light of that, company andBeyond is hosting a live panel discussion with an expert panel of ecologists, conservationists, wildlife experts and rehabilitation specialists lined up for a two-part live discussion on all things pangolin.
On 11 February, 10 pm (SGT), join a passionate panel of experts from across Africa and Asia to discuss the significant threats facing this precious endangered species across the globe.
The Endangered Pangolin
The pangolin is the world’s most intensively poached and trafficked mammal. It is on the verge of extinction around the world. Due to a nearly insatiable demand for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine, all four of Asia’s pangolin species face extinction.
The four remaining African species have increasingly become targeted, with 97 tons of scales representing an estimated 150,000 African pangolin intercepted by law enforcement agencies and customs officials at ports in both Africa and Asia in 2019 alone.
According to unpublished data by the African Pangolin Working Group, since 2016, over 174 tons of scales have been intercepted, representing more than 350 000 African pangolins. In Africa, other than the huge losses due to poaching, the additional threats include habitat loss, the bushmeat trade and their traditional use in African tribal dress and medicine have seen the numbers of pangolin decline dramatically.
During the live discussion on 11 February, the panel of experts will share their insights, learnings and experiences to highlight the dangers facing the pangolin, as well as to discuss why and how the animals should be protected.
Rescue To Release
Another topic that will be discussed is “A pangolin’s journey from rescue to release”. This is a second live event that will be held on 18 February 2021 at 10 pm (SGT).
Those who attend the discussion will see what it takes to rescue pangolins from the underworld of the illegal wildlife trade, to stabilise and rehabilitate them and then to successfully release them back into the wild.
Go behind the scenes with the conservationists and share in their learnings and unforgettable moments.
Birth Of A Pangolin Pup
World Pangolin Day this year will also be especially meaningful as andBeyond has just welcomed the birth of a pangolin pup at its andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, the first of this endangered species to be born in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province in many decades!
The pup was born to a female Temminck’s pangolin confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and translocated to andBeyond Phinda as part of an ambitious conservation project. run by andBeyond in conjunction with the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG), the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital and the Humane Society International (HSI) Africa. The conservation project aims to bring the species back to the area, where it had gone ecologically extinct.
“We are very excited about the birth, which is a great indicator of the success of our project and testifies to how comfortable the pangolins have become in their new habitat,” says Simon Naylor, Conservation Manager at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Launched in mid-2019, the initiative has seen the release of many pangolins retrieved from poachers or illegal wildlife traffickers across South Africa in operations undertaken by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the APWG at andBeyond Phinda.
Each pangolin retrieved from the illegal wildlife trade is assessed, treated and rehabilitated by qualified personnel, who conduct appropriate health checks and ensure the animal is in good condition for its reintroduction back into the wild.
Find out more and join the first discussion panel session on 11 February, 10 pm (SGT) at the link here.
