Pangolin Monitoring.
Building the baseline of knowledge required to protect one of Africa’s most threatened mammal species
Pangolins are among the world's most unique and most threatened mammals. They’re shy, nocturnal, and covered in overlapping keratin scales. Pangolins are extraordinary pest controllers and soil aerators, digging up termites and aerating the ground in the process. When threatened, they curl into a tight ball, using their scales as a shield.
That defense does nothing against the hands of poachers. All eight pangolin species are threatened with extinction, driven by demand for their scales (used in traditional medicine) and their meat.
In early 2024, we launched formal pangolin surveys as part of our expanded species monitoring programme at Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. This helped us build the baseline data on distribution, signs, and habitat use that is a prerequisite for any effective protection strategy.
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WAMF intern collecting morphometric data during our first pangolin survey (2024) ©SMACON