Pangolin poaching hits record highs in South Africa. Image credit: Save Pangolins
(The Post News)- Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammal, facing severe threats to their survival and well-being globally. These wegentle creatures are often called “scaly anteaters” due to their unique appearance and feeding habits.
Pangolins feed on ants and termites using their incredibly long, sticky tongues that protrude from their mouths.
Despite their fascinating nature, pangolins are critically endangered in South Africa, with numbers dwindling alarmingly fast. South Africa faces alarming record poaching rates, prompting urgent calls for pangolin conservation efforts nationwide immediately.
Pangolins are mercilessly hunted for scales, fueling devastating population decline, with over 1,000 poached in 2022 alone. Habitat loss and fragmentation also contribute significantly to the decline of pangolin populations in South Africa sadly.
Conservation efforts are underway to protect pangolins, but more needs to be done urgently to save them. Experts warn that South Africa’s pangolin population is on brink of collapse, necessitating drastic conservation measures now.
The unprecedented poaching crisis demands collaborative efforts from government, conservationists, and citizens to protect pangolins effectively. Raising awareness and education are crucial in dispelling myths surrounding pangolin scales, reducing demand, and promoting conservation.
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