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Saw this recently - and truly amazing creatures Pangolins are....and how fascinating the background on Pangolins is. Pangolins, also known as “scaly anteaters,” look like a prehistoric animal and have an interesting way of moving. Would love to have one of these as a pet for my family (even though I realize that many have done more harm than good in the trading of these animals as pets since it takes a lot to care for them - and they are able to survive better in the wild). Although I'd love to have the means/skills to take care of one in a way that'd help it live, I'm more concerned with wishing others become more aware since they're endangered...some buying them as pets to keep them from extinction. For evils such as poaching and the exploitation of the natural world - an event that often happens to many other species (more discussed elsewhere in #47 ) - add to the rapid rate that Pangolins are dying...and praying others would be interested in these creatures for positive benefits. Outside of the ways they represent a very UNIQUE type of mammal, they are also a Natural Pest Controllers and Soil Caretakers ..making them of HIGH benefit to the Eco-System and keeping things going in our world.
As stated in Wildlife Heroes , “Pangolins play a critical role in natural insect control, especially ants and termites, saving humans millions of dollars to pest damage and reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides. Additionally, pangolin burrows provide shelter for many species, such as rodents and reptiles.”
More specifically, as said best elsewhere (for brief excerpt):
Their large and elongated claws enable them to burrow underground for shelter and to excavate ant and termite nests for food. In doing so, the soil is mixed and aerated—much like what happens when we rototill gardens or plow crop fields. This improves the nutrient quality of the soil and aids the decomposition cycle, providing a healthy substrate for lush vegetation to grow from. When abandoned, their underground burrows also provide habitat for other animals.....It is said that a single pangolin consumes as much as 70 million insects per year—mainly ants and termites. Seventy million! That’s about 191,780 insects per day! Imagine an area that is home to 15 pangolins. Those animals alone could potentially eat as many as 1.05 billion insects annually! Comparatively, the U.S. National Park Service says individuals of some bat species are said to eat as many as 3,000 bugs each night, which could mean a total of almost 1.1 million a year. ...pangolins certainly help to control their insect prey’s numbers, contributing to the delicate balance of the ecosystems they inhabit.
The four African species are the following:
•The Giant Pangolin (Manis gigantea), found in many parts of Africa – where there are large populations of termites.
•The Ground Pangolin (Manis temminckii), which is also called ‘Temminck's Pangolin or the ‘Cape Pangolin’.
•The Tree Pangolin (Manis tricuspis), usually found in forests
•The Long-tailed Pangolin (Manis tetradactyla), another forest-dweller and the smallest of the pangolins.
The four Asian species are the following:•The Ground Pangolin (Manis temminckii), which is also called ‘Temminck's Pangolin or the ‘Cape Pangolin’.
•The Tree Pangolin (Manis tricuspis), usually found in forests
•The Long-tailed Pangolin (Manis tetradactyla), another forest-dweller and the smallest of the pangolins.
•The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), found in many parts of India and some parts of Sri Lanka.
•The Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), which lives from north India right through to southern China.
•The Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica), also known as the Malayan Pangolin, and found in Southeast Asia’s forests.
•The Philippine Pangolin (Manis culionensis), found only found in the ‘Palawan’ province of the Philippines where it is at risk due to extensive hunting.
More could be said on these creatures - but ultimately, in light of the immense suffering they're going through (much of it being a slow death), it'd be amazing if others would invest in saving some from the markets - beautiful as they are...and Pangolins are worth the investment, IMHO•The Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), which lives from north India right through to southern China.
•The Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica), also known as the Malayan Pangolin, and found in Southeast Asia’s forests.
•The Philippine Pangolin (Manis culionensis), found only found in the ‘Palawan’ province of the Philippines where it is at risk due to extensive hunting.
Family Manidae (Pangolins)
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