pangolin conservation

in southern africa, electrified fences inadvertently cause significant harm to pangolins. due to their unique walking style—standing on their hind legs and holding their tail and front legs off the ground—pangolins sometimes make contact with electrified wires. when they curl up in defense, they may inadvertently wrap around the wire, leading to electrocution. research is underway to design more pangolin-friendly fences, such as raising the height of the lowest wire or modifying tripwire systems, which has shown promising results in reducing mortality.

human expansion across africa, particularly through agriculture, mining, and infrastructure development, is a major threat to pangolins. these activities fragment and diminish natural habitats, making it harder for wildlife to thrive. the increased accessibility of previously remote areas encourages over-exploitation of resources. to help conserve pangolins and their ecosystems, supporting local eco-tourism and conservation projects like sangha lodge and chinko project can make a big difference.

the illegal domestic trade is currently one of the biggest threats to african pangolins. in many african cultures, pangolins are used in traditional medicine (muthi) or as a sign of respect, often given to tribal chiefs or other figures of authority. some people believe pangolins have mystical powers, such as predicting droughts or warding off evil spirits, while others use pangolin scales in their traditional dress. in central and west africa, pangolins are hunted for food, viewed as another form of bushmeat, and served on special occasions. after being killed, the scales are removed and discarded while the meat is preserved.

until recently, international trade primarily focused on asian pangolins, but as their populations decline and african pangolins become more accessible, they are increasingly targeted to meet the high demand in countries like china and vietnam. while european countries act as transit points, some pangolins are destined for bushmeat markets, especially in expatriate communities. with growing trade, illegal trafficking poses an imminent and significant threat to african pangolins.