Most Hunted Animal in the World

Did you know, twenty percent of a Pangolin’s body weight comes from it’s scales (African Wildlife Foundation - Pangolin)? Now, I bet you are sitting here thinking, “A pangolin? I don’t even know what a pangolin is”. The pangolin is one of the most unknown animals of the world, yet it is also one of the most hunted (World Wildlife - Pangolin). Allow me to give you some insight on why this mysterious animal is such a phenomenal creature.

Endangered species are a species at risk of extinction because of human activity, changes in climate, changes in predator-prey ratios, etc. (Endangered Species) There are eight different species of pangolins: Four of these species live in Africa and four live in Asia. The African species are the black-bellied pangolin, the white-bellied pangolin, the giant ground pangolin, and Temminck's ground pangolin.The four species found in Asia are the indian pangolin, the philippine pangolin, the Sunda pangolin, and the Chinese pangolin (World Wildlife - Pangolin). Most people believe that pangolins are in the same family as anteaters, armadillos and sloths, but in fact, they are more closely related to cats, dogs and bears (What is a pangolin?). Pangolins are normally small creatures that are covered in scales, though some species can grow up to five feet long. Their tongue is as long as their body and they have a long, spiky tail. Pangolins have a long, narrow snout, but they do not have any teeth. Their stomachs have “rocks” that help grind up and digest their food.

The Pangolin lives on two different continents: Asia and Africa. Pangolins are found in a variety of habitats including tropical and flooded forests, thick brush, cleared and cultivated areas, and savannah grassland; in general they occur where large numbers of ants and termites are found. Most dig burrows where they build a nest underground. Some Pangolins sleep in trees or logs. Some of these burrows are large enough to fit a human, standing up! One of the biggest threats to pangolins (besides being hunted by humans) is the deforestation and destruction of their habitats (What is a Pangolin?).

Pangolins can begin reproducing at about two years of age. The different species of pangolins have different gestation periods. They can range anywhere from 65 days to 139 days. Most pangolins give birth to only one baby at a time. The Asian pangolins have been known to have two or even three babies at a time. Newly-born pangolins have soft, pale scales, but those scales begin to harden just one day after they are born. Pangolin mothers are very nurturing to their young. During the night, the mothers curl around their babies to protect them from any possible predators. Baby pangolins nurse for three to four months, but can eat termites as young as one month. Young pangolins ride on their mother’s tale as she forages for food (What is a Pangolin?).

Pangolins are considered insectivores. They eat mainly termites and ants, but they will also eat worms, larvae and crickets. Although pangolins are the predators of these insects, pangolins are prey to leopards, hyenas and especially humans (African Wildlife Foundation). If there is a predator nearby, a mother will curl herself around her baby to protect it. The scales on the pangolin are used as a defense mechanism. The tail even has additional spikes to be used to further protect itself and potentially harm predators (What is a Pangolin?).

Not only are pangolins hunted by their natural predators, they are also hunted by humans with acceleration.Pangolins are one of the most hunted and valued animals on the market because of their believed powers. Pangolins are increasingly considered a delicacy in China and Vietnam. It is also believed that pangolins possess magic and charms. As a result of these beliefs, their scales are used to neutralize against evil spirits and witchcraft.

Pangolins are quickly disappearing from the wild. Though nobody really knows exactly how many pangolins are left in the wild, it is known that there have been over one million pangolins killed in the last decade (What is a Pangolin?). There are many different organizations that have been trying to prevent the excessive deaths of the pangolin species. It is now illegal to hunt, sell or buy pangolins, though it is difficult to enforce.

Since pangolins are one of the least researched animals, there is little known about these peculiar animals. As a result, it is difficult to know the exact repercussions if this animal were to become extinct. These impeccable animals are difficult to keep in captivity. There have been many incidents where a pangolin dies in captivity for no apparent reason. Consequently, rehabilitation efforts have been very challenging. Ultimately, any kind of efforts to increase the Pangolin population will be challenging.

African Wildlife Foundation - Pangolin, http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/pangolin

Dictionary Endangered Species Definition, http://www.dictionary.com/browse/endangered-species

Save Pangolins - What is a Pangolin?, http://savepangolins.org/what-is-a-pangolin/#DistributionandHabitat

World Wildlife - Pangolin, https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin