Pangolins don’t stand a chance against humans. When threatened, they roll into a tight ball, a defence that works against predators, but not against poachers. In South Africa, the Temminck’s Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), the country’s only native species, is being pushed toward extinction. They’re shy, nocturnal and highly trafficked for meat and traditional medicine, these animals often disappear quietly, hidden in sacks and vehicles before most people even know they exist.
Standing between pangolins and extinction are the guardians, the rangers, veterinarians, conservationists, monitors and community members who work tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate and protect them. The Boucher Legacy, founded by former Proteas cricketer Mark Boucher, supports this work through prosecution, conservation and education. By funding medical care, long-term rehabilitation and high-cost satellite and VHF telemetry tracking, rescued pangolins are monitored for up to a year after release, giving them a real chance to survive in the wild. Through initiatives like the KwaZulu-Natal reintroduction project, we helped return pangolins to areas where they had been extinct for 40 years. This World Pangolin Day, under the theme Guardians in Action, we honour those who stand in the way of extinction every day. Their work is dangerous, exhausting and it cannot continue without your support. Pangolins cannot protect themselves. Together, we can. Read more about the pangolins we’ve rescued here and help protect them with a donation here.
