The Most Fascinating Endangered Species You’ve Never Heard Of

Pangolins are mysterious creatures we know little about.

With their beautiful, scaly bodies, long sticky tongues and huge, powerful front claws, they look like an animal plucked straight from a child’s imagination.

But, one thing we do know is that their very survival hangs in the balance. 

Pangolins are meant to be fully protected from the ravages of international trade, yet they are the world’s most trafficked mammal – callously hunted in huge numbers for their scales and meat. Tragically, a pangolin’s natural defence mechanism when faced with danger is to roll up into a ball, which makes them an easy target for poachers to snatch from the wild. 

Scales from an estimated 600,000 pangolins have been seized by enforcement authorities in the past four years alone.

If we don’t act now, it will be too late.

That’s why we are working to conserve these amazing mammals in the wild, to rescue and return pangolins in need back to safe areas of their natural habitat, and to stop their illegal trade. 

There is no time to lose. The world must act to save these fascinating creatures and, with your help, working with our partners, Born Free is determined to do all we can to ensure their survival.

Your gift today will help give pangolins the chance of a better future.

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CONSERVING PANGOLINS IN THE WILD

We’re proud to partner with the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), which protects wild pangolins and improves wildlife law-enforcement against their would-be poachers in Odisha – a state in south east India thought to be one of the last strongholds of the Indian pangolin. WPSI is involved in extensive anti-poaching activities in the region.

It has painstakingly built a dedicated informer network to gather local intelligence, bring wildlife criminals to justice, and educate local communities on the importance of pangolin conservation. 

RESCUING AND REHABILITATING PANGOLINS

We support Sangha Pangolin Project, a small rescue centre in Central African Republic that, since 2009, has been rescuing pangolins from the wildlife trade, rehabilitating them and returning them to the wild.

It operates a small veterinary clinic, laboratory and pangolarium, where rescued pangolins spend time recovering as part of the rehabilitation process.

PROTECTING PANGOLINS FROM TRADE

Born Free works with partners on a global scale to reduce and, if possible, halt the illegal trade in all wild animals, including Asian and African pangolins.

We lobby decision makers to ensure the best possible outcome for wildlife and are calling for a global agreement on ending wildlife crime.