Pangolins: Fascinating features of the world’s most trafficked mammals, by Fatima Ma’aji Muhammad

Story by Fatima Ma’aji Muhammad (Student at Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt)

The Pangolin is one of the most unusual animals in the world. Although many people think it is a reptile because of its scales, the pangolin is actually a mammal. It lives in forests and grasslands across Asia and Africa and is known for being shy and difficult to observe in the wild.

One of the pangolin’s most distinctive features is its protective scales, which are made of keratin, the same material found in human fingernails. When threatened by predators, the pangolin curls into a tight ball, using its tough scales as armour to protect the softer parts of its body. This unique defence helps keep it safe from many natural enemies.

Pangolins have a specialised diet and mainly eat ants and termites. They use their long, sticky tongues to reach insects hidden inside nests and tunnels. Because pangolins do not have teeth, they swallow small stones or sand to help grind their food in their stomach.

Despite their remarkable adaptations, pangolins face serious threats. They are considered one of the most heavily trafficked mammals in the world.

In some places, their meat is eaten as a delicacy, and their scales are used in traditional medicine. Large shipments of pangolin scales were seized in 2019 and 2020, showing that illegal trade remains a major problem.

Because pangolins are elusive animals, it is difficult for scientists to estimate their population size. However, experts believe their numbers are declining due to hunting and habitat loss.

Protecting pangolins and reducing illegal wildlife trade is essential to ensure that these unique animals survive in the future.