The Magical Pangolin
A rare ancient treasure
Ages 5+
Video Links Require Adult Supervision
3 minute reading + additional video links 1hr
The Pangolin is, “the world’s only truly scaly mammal”, says Sir David Attenborough in the ABC documentary, Pangolins.
The Pangolin is a prehistoric and somewhat mythological looking being that has it’s origins on the continent of Africa and Asia. Looking somewhat similar in appearance to an Aardvark but with scales like pine cones covering nearly all of its body. The Pangolin is a slow-moving, shy and defenceless mammal.
Pangolin is the most hunted mammal on the planet and because of black market poaching also one of the rarest.
Living on planet earth for more than 40 million years, the Pangolin are almost extinct because of the demand for their meat and scales in the Asian pharmaceutical and restaurant trade. Pangolin scales are worth more than ivory on the black market, and with dwindling supplies of the rare animal on the Asian continent, poachers now source Pangolin illegally from Africa.
Extinction is imminent.
In Africa and Vietnam, amazing wildlife warriors are working to save the pangolin in the wild, establishing conservation and rehabilitation projects which are leading the way to understand and protecting the dwindling Pangolin species.
Education and community are crucial to saving our very precious planet and the gorgeous and rare creatures that inhabit it. All over the world animals are being lost forever, never to be seen or heard again. Animals that have lived here for millions of years, before the time of humans are vanishing before our eyes and it is our fault.
To find out more:
Watching Pangolins: Narrated by David Attenborough in iview
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/pangolins-narrated-by-david-attenborough?isMobile=iOS
Conservation
REST’s number one aim in being a good wildlife centre is to practice good conservation first. Founder, Maria Diekmann feels strongly that although research and education are key, conservation of a species must take priority. Extinction makes all other aspects irrelevant to survival. Of course research and education benefit from such efforts.
Guest Contributor: Emily Rack
Business Name: Horatio’s Jar
Publisher: Digital Schools
Emily Rack is a yoga teacher, meditation instructor, freelance writer and visual content creator. She incorporates a unique creative flair into her yoga and meditation classes, courses and workshops. Emily hosts events and classes in schools and the wider community & is passionate about teaching the art of mindfulness.
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