It’s estimated that a pangolin is snatched from the wild every 5 seconds. Taken to be sold as luxury meat and, their scales sold to be used in traditional medicines.
Pangolins need their scales more than humans do. Help raise awareness of their plight: print this pangolin, give him/her scales, colour in, and, share on your social media with #WorldPangolinDay
Click on the image below for a printable pdf.
Click here for more pangolin crafts and colouring pages.
I don’t do a lot of baking but I do like making biscuits. When I made some spiced biscuits for Christmas, I couldn’t help myself, I had to try making a pangolin. I cut it out freestyle with I knife then used the handle of a teaspoon to make indentations for the scales. It worked but took ages… for one biscuit.
There are descriptions online of how to make your own cookie cutters using aluminium foil. I was considering this when Cathy from Marvellous Creatures posted her pangolin cookies on instagram and passed on a link to a pangolin cookie cutter! Such things do actually exist!
Armed with my new pangolin cookie cutter, I set about making cookies! …I may have got a little carried away with the quantities but I’ve got plenty to share for World Pangolin Day 🙂
I used the gingerbread recipe from the Good Housekeeping website. It’s a great recipe and really easy, there’s even a video showing what to do. I just added more ginger.
Gingerbread recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Want to help pangolins – please read my blog: Ten things you can do to help pangolins
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.
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?
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.
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.
Or try baking some pangolin biscuits. This pangolin cookie cutter is available on Etsy. I used it to make these gingerbread pangolins.
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Make and send a pop-up pangolin card. The cute pangolin mom playing with her pangopup appears when you open the card.
For a pdf template and instructions, click on this image:
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.
Find out more about pangolins and the actions being taken to help them on The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group website
Rachel L Shaw 