Eneh Oluchi Nora, Jadetimes Staff
E.O. Nora is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Tourism News
The pangolin is an unusual mammal with armor-like scales made of keratin, the material in human nails and hair. There are eight species of pangolins: four from Asia and four from Africa. Except for their exotic-looking features, pangolins are among the most trafficked mammals in the world and face a dire threat to their survival.
Physical Characteristics
The size of pangolins varies from small, about 12 inches in length, to much larger, up to 4 feet in length. Their bodies are covered with overlapping scales that afford great protection from predators. When threatened, pangolins curl into a tight ball, only exposing their tough scales to whatever predator might be threatening them. They possess long, curved claws for digging into ant and termite mounds and a long, sticky tongue, often longer than their body, which aids them while feeding on insects.
Behavior and Diet
These animals are solitary and nocturnal, finding their food with the keen sense of smell; their diet consists mainly of ants and termites. Pangolins have no teeth, and besides feeding on insects, they take in small stones that help them grind up insects in the stomach. Specialized nutrition and feeding behavior are important aspects of the biological function these animals play regarding pest control, as pangolins consume great numbers of ants and termites that serve to regulate the balance of their ecosystems.
Habitat and Distribution
These range from tropical and subtropical forests to savannas and grasslands in Asia and Africa. The Asian species of pangolins, such as the Chinese and Indian pangolins, are located toward a more humid environment; the remaining species, such as the Temminck's pangolin of Africa, relate to drier areas.
Conservation Status
Pangolins have been declared one of the most endangered animals, as poaching and habitat destruction have reached alarming levels. This is due to high demand for their scales, which can be used in traditional medicine, and their meat, seen by certain cultures as a delicacy. Continuing this way, the pressure because of poaching has dramatically reduced populations, hence the call for increased protection through the enforcement of stricter anti-trafficking laws and the promotion of habitat preservation.
Efforts for Pangolin Conservation
Several organizations are involved in the conservation of pangolins through awareness, anti-poaching support, and research into what ecological needs these animals have. Rescue and rehabilitation centers of threatened wildlife across Asia and Africa are also important facilities for the overall care of confiscated pangolins and can have the opportunity to return them into the wild whenever possible.
Pangolins are interesting creatures whose existence is quite important in balancing the ecosystems. However, their populations are under serious threats due to illicit trade and habitat loss. There's hope towards preventing their extinction through international cooperation, legal protection, and community awareness so that these remarkable animals can continue to thrive in nature.
