Save pangolins

Ten things to do to help pangolins

pangolin release by Save Vietnam's Wildlife
~ Rachel L Shaw ~ 2 Comments

Pangolins are the world’s only scaly mammals. The word ‘pangolin’ comes from the Malay ‘penngguling’, which means ‘something that rolls up’. When threatened, they roll up into an impenetrable ball.

Despite the fact that there scales are made of keratin, the same as your fingernails and hair, they are killed and their scales removed to be made into medicine. It is estimated that a pangolin is taken from the wild every five minutes. They desperately need your help.

Here’s a few ideas of what you can do.

1. Make a donation

Many of the organisations that work directly with pangolins are small and in need of funds. These are the dedicated people rescue, rehabilitate and re-release pangolins confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, work to raise awareness in the local communities and help to protect the places where pangolins live.

Why not increase the value of your donation by organising a sponsored event?

Pangolin resuced and released by Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary
Pangolin rescued and released by Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary

2. Adopt a pangolin

Some of the larger international NGOs have pangolin adoption schemes. By adopting a pangolin you are making donation to their pangolin conservation programmes and you get a cute soft toy pangolin in return.

DSWF adoption kit
The adoption pack from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

3. Organise a cake bake

Raise funds for pangolin conservation by baking pangolin-inspired cakes and selling slices to your friends and colleagues.
For inspiration check out this awesomely cool pangolin cake by Davina Behin Jones.

pangolin cake
Pangolin cake by Davina Behin Jones

Or try baking some pangolin biscuits. This pangolin cookie cutter is available on Etsy. I used it to make these gingerbread pangolins.

Pangolin biscuits

4. Learn more about pangolins and the illegal wildlife trade

The website of the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group is a great place to start but if you want a more in-depth understanding of the illegal wildlife trade then get a copy of ‘Poached’ by Rachel Love Nuwer.

Book cover of Poached by Rachel Love Nuwer

5. Buy pangolin art, t-shirts or jewelry

Lots of artists and crafters that choose to feature pangolins in their art also give a proportion of their profits to charity. If you buy from them, you’re helping raise funds and by raising awareness simply by wearing a t-shirt! What you wear can be a conversation starter.
Here are a few of my favourites:

pangolin bead necklace

gcf pango-pin

6. Start them young

Get your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews excited about pangolins. Share pangolin facts, colour pangolins or try your hand at some pangolin crafts. Create your own pangolin art or design a poster about pangolins – featuring crazy facts or the issues surrounding the illegal wildlife trade.
Here are my pangolin colouring and craft pages.

Pangolin mom and pangopup colouring page

peeping pangolin

7. Follow Pipisin Pangolin on Instagram

Self-promotion but Pipisin is trying his best to raise awareness of pangolins. He is currently a mascot for WWF and TRAFFIC in China and would love to be friends with you too.
Pipisin Pangolin’s instagram

Pipisin instagram

8. Join a World Pangolin Day event

The ninth World Pangolin Day is on Saturday 15 February.
There may be events here you but if there isn’t, why not hold your own pangolin party.

9. Write to your political representative

Tell them about pangolins and ask them what your government is doing to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Politicians represent us, the people, but it they don’t know what we care about then they might not take action.
If you see pangolins for sale in markets, restaurants or online, report it to the authorities.

10. Share

Share your love and concern for pangolins on social media. Post pictures of your World Pangolin Day celebrations; your artwork or cakes, or a selfie wearing pangolin t-shirt.

Share with your favourite celebrity or influencer, tell them about pangolins and perhaps they’ll support the conservation of these special animals too.

Use #WorldPangolinDay #Pangolin #ScalingUpPangolinConservation

pangolin release by Save Vietnam's Wildlife
Two of the lucky ones – rescued and released back into the wild where they belong by Save Vietnam’s Wildlife

 

 

Book cover of It's Not My Fault
Buy my book: a pocket-sized companion for when you feel like a pangolin and want to roll up into a ball.

Pop-up pangolin card

~ Rachel L Shaw ~ 1 Comment

Make and send a pop-up pangolin card. The cute pangolin mom playing with her pangopup appears when you open the card.

20180204_134526

 

For a pdf template and instructions, click on this image:
pop-up 3

 

Use your card to help raise awareness of pangolins! Send it to a friend who might not know that pangolins even exist. Add some pangolin facts to the front and back of the card.

  • Pangolins are mammals with large overlapping scales covering their bodies.
  • The scales are made of keratin, just like our fingernails.
  • 20% of a pangolin’s weight is comprised of scales.
  • As a defense against predators, they roll up into a ball. Even lions and tigers can’t prise them open.
  • A pangolin’s tongue is longer than it’s body. The tongue is sticky and they use them to catch ants and termites.
  • A pangolin can eat 70 million ants per year.
  • There are eight species of pangolin: four in Asia and four in Africa.
  • Sadly, a pangolin is snatched from the wild every five minutes! They are the most most illegally traded wild mammals on the planet. They are poached for their meat, which is eaten as a luxury dish in parts of their range, and their scales which are used in Traditional Asian Medicine.

Find out more about pangolins and the actions being taken to help them on The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group website

Click here for more pangolin crafts and colouring.