Here Today --- Gone Tomorrow ? -- The Pangolin

[Gottshotz]

There is a judgment call when burning jet fuel to travel to an overseas destination to photograph wildlife that is becoming extinct in large part from our own lifestyle and hobbies.

A good point well said and in today's world, very valid.

 

[Gottshotz]

What an amazing series of images! You are a very lucky photographer to have even seen them! And, as you note, they are under pressure from poaching for scales and for babies, that are, crazy as it seems, considered a delicacy and a sign of status to serve at dinner. Having essentially wiped out the four Asian species, all are Critically Engangered on the IUCN Red List, the trafficking driven by the Chinese has turned to the African species, which are also disappearing rapidly.

Thanks Corey --- just lucky to have been in the right place at the right time.

 

[ariban]

Such wonderful shots! Amazing animal and highly vulnerable to poaching.

 

[Gottshotz]

Such wonderful shots! Amazing animal and highly vulnerable to poaching.

Thanks Arijit --- Unfortunately, yes the 4 Asian species have been decimated to supply the Chinese Traditional Medicine trade and similarly the 4 African species are endangered too, as here they are highly prized as bush meat as well.

 

[markymark]

Wow, a rare site indeed! Great work!

It really is a rare sighting as I think I read somewhere that it’s one of the most poached species due to its scales being so popular on the Asian market.
I know Pangolin Safaris do a lot of conservation work towards getting Pangolin numbers up.
I saw an image that was taken after a police raid on a smuggler’s premises & he had over 20 sacks that were filled just with Pangolin scales!… how many Pangolins have been killed to get 20 sack loads?
It really is a rare sighting indeed, so great shot

 

[BLev65]

David,
These are so amazing. I really appreciate you adding some educational content. I did not know that there were Asian pangolins.
These are photos to be treasured!
regards,
bruce

 

[ProperFrame]

Nice !! Fortuitously saw one at Mala Mala after everyone else had headed back to camp for dinner. When the rangers are as excited as kids on Christmas morning you know you are seeing something extraordinary.
Sadly in the news that same week was a confiscation of 40,000 pounds of their scales in the far east.

 

[jpawlan]

I was in three very different areas of Kenya in 2019 and I asked all the guides and even went to the offices of the heads of the game departments and no one had seen a pangolin in 10 years.
Thank you for those beautiful photos and your story.

 

[Gottshotz]

It really is a rare sighting as I think I read somewhere that it’s one of the most poached species due to its scales being so popular on the Asian market.
I know Pangolin Safaris do a lot of conservation work towards getting Pangolin numbers up.
I saw an image that was taken after a police raid on a smuggler’s premises & he had over 20 sacks that were filled just with Pangolin scales!… how many Pangolins have been killed to get 20 sack loads?
It really is a rare sighting indeed, so great shot

Thanks Markymark --- yep, certainly one of my most memorable sightings.

 

[Gottshotz]

David,
These are so amazing. I really appreciate you adding some educational content. I did not know that there were Asian pangolins.
These are photos to be treasured!
regards,
bruce

Thanks Bruce --- I felt it was useful to add the additional info as many people think there is only a single Pangolin species in the world.

 

[Gottshotz]

Nice !! Fortuitously saw one at Mala Mala after everyone else had headed back to camp for dinner. When the rangers are as excited as kids on Christmas morning you know you are seeing something extraordinary.
Sadly in the news that same week was a confiscation of 40,000 pounds of their scales in the far east.

Thanks Mike --- certainly wildlife rangers reactions to certain animals is a great indicator of a species rarity or certain behaviours not usually observed in the field.

 

[Gottshotz]

I was in three very different areas of Kenya in 2019 and I asked all the guides and even went to the offices of the heads of the game departments and no one had seen a pangolin in 10 years.
Thank you for those beautiful photos and your story.

Not only are they very rare now, but I think the survivors have become more secretive and are probably switching their foraging much more to nightime feeding.

 

[Irap]

Great shots, such an unusual animal.

 

[Gottshotz]

Great shots, such an unusual animal.

Thanks Ira --- yes, lives up to it's AKA name, " the scaly anteater".

 

[jeffnles1]

what an interesting creature. Thanks for sharing

 

[paul katinas]

During my August trip to Uganda I was incredibly fortunate to come across one of these critically endangered animals foraging in an old coffee plantation. Pangolin means "Roller" in Malay, the action they take of curling up into a ball for self-defence. There are 8 species in the World , 4 in Africa and 4 in Asia--this particular animal is a White-bellied or Tree Pangolin.

View attachment 78063

Note the very powerful front paws with long claws to rip off bark and dig into termite mounds and ant-hills. Indeed, they are sometimes referred to as "scaly anteaters". This particular species is semi arboreal and frequents lowland forests where they help to prevent termite destruction, thus maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

View attachment 78064

Their scaly tail can sometimes be mistaken for a snake in the dense undergrowth, which unfortunately can lead to death by the machete wielding ladies who do most of the cultivation in Uganda and are traditionally fearful of snakes (of which there are many in the countryside with a highly venomous bite ! ).

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The tail is also quite prehensile in this species, giving the animal a stable platform to balance on and thus freeing its front legs to rip off bark and access the insects hidden inside.

View attachment 78074

Although their eyesight is poor they have a great sense of smell and a long sticky tongue to pick off the smallest prey in some numbers. They can consume up to 20,000 ants a day !

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Tragically, there is one Pangolin being killed every 5 minutes for their unique scales, and over the last decade well over a million have been illegally taken from the wild to feed demand from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) market as they are believed to treat a range of ailments from asthma to rheumatism and arthritis. None of TCM using animal parts, including the Keratin scales of Pangolin have been found to be scientifically effective --- you may as well crush your own nail clippings and save yourself a stack of money and more importantly save the Pangolins too !!

Fantastic capture of a fascinating creature.
Happy trails.

 

[Gottshotz]

what an interesting creature. Thanks for sharing

Thanks Jeff --- No problem, my pleasure.

 

[Gottshotz]

Fantastic capture of a fascinating creature.
Happy trails.

Thanks Paul --- glad you enjoyed the pics.

 

[S_Funk]

Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos and excellent descriptive information! This is one of the most interesting photo posts that I've seen/read.

 

[Gottshotz]

Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos and excellent descriptive information! This is one of the most interesting photo posts that I've seen/read.

Thanks and for the kind words too.

 

[Box Brownie]

Based on what I learned here https://www.pangolin.africa/ the focal length used suggest you were way too close even though it did not roll up into its defensive posture....you may have stressed it and that is never good for creatures that cannot run away as a flight measure. They are indeed beautiful animals and all too endeangered.

FWIW I did their on-line course and though the pin badge is costly....the fact that it funds wider educational purposes in Botswana (and beyond in Africa) I was happy to get my badge.