Brief Description
- A nocturnal and solitary friend to plants and trees. It has long, powerful claws for digging into ant and termite mounds, and a long, sticky tongue for feeding.
- Its claws and scales are made of keratin, which protects it from natural predators.
- Pangolins are known for rolling into a tight ball when threatened, though this defense mechanism is ineffective against poachers.
- The young, called “pango pups,” are born with soft scales that will harden over time. The pup is carried by its mother on the back of her tail for a time.
Where are they found
The Philippine pangolin is endemic to Palawan province, where they are primarily found in lowland forests and secondary growth areas.
How do they contribute to our ecosystem?
They act as forest landscapers and help eliminate pests by feeding on termites and ants.
Why are they in danger?
- There is a high demand for meat and scales; hence, they are Illegally caught for trade
- Their meat is used as food, while the scales are prized in traditional medicine, despite no medicinal properties being identified through reliable evidence.
- Pangolins are also in danger because of habitat loss. Forest clearings have caused a decline in their population.
How will my donation help protect the Philippine Pangolin?
- A 2019 Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) study by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) highlighted high pangolin hunting and consumption in El Nido and Taytay, Palawan.
- These areas have been designated as Local Pangolin Conservation Areas (LPCAs) to ensure better management and resource mobilization.
- Since 2019, ZSL Philippines has worked with Taytay stakeholders to establish a 4,500-hectare LPCA in Lake Manguao in Palawan, protecting a breeding population of pangolins.
- This approach was replicated in El Nido, creating a 1,601-hectare community-led LPCA.
