Pangolins
The Pangolin is by far the most nervous looking animal in the animal kingdom, and for good reason too. According to Perry Miller from the Inhabitat, “The pangolin is the most often trafficked mammal in the entire world, with an estimated one million of the scaly mammals being sold in the black market over the past 10 years alone.” But, the Pangolin Project for Pangolin Day, on the third Saturday in February, aims to bring trafficking numbers down and save the Pangolins. Many groups are hard at work to help these animals, “This includes the Tikki Hywood Foundation, which produced a documentary in 2016 about saving pangolins from poachers and the black market.” according to the Inhabitat. Sadly, the Inhabitat article says “While efforts like Pangolin Day are doing a great job at raising awareness, environmentalists and conservationists face an uphill battle ahead of them. In fact, animal trafficking numbers have steadily grown over the past few years, despite bans against trading endangered species like pangolins. Last week, for example, authorities in Hong Kong uncovered nine tons of pangolin scales in a shipyard, along with over 1,000 elephant tusks.” These Pangolins would be sold and killed for millions of dollars in Vietnam. This is one of many examples of trafficking but luckily, there are more efforts to bring this creature back from endangerment. These efforts are crucial in raising awareness to save these animals
But what is a Pangolin? Why are they so important? Pangolins are extremely important to our world and they are very unique animal. According to a World Pangolin Day article “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.” Without them, our soil would be dry and unable to sustain life which is crucial in the cycle of our Earth. In the same article, the author says “It is said that a single pangolin consumes as much as 70 million insects per year—mainly ants and termites.” This helps maintain a balance in the ecosystem and also helps keep termites away from humans. It is crucial to save these creatures because they help us and the world around us. Projects like World Pangolin Day work hard to make sure these animals are protected and continue to help the environment.
But what is a Pangolin? Why are they so important? Pangolins are extremely important to our world and they are very unique animal. According to a World Pangolin Day article “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.” Without them, our soil would be dry and unable to sustain life which is crucial in the cycle of our Earth. In the same article, the author says “It is said that a single pangolin consumes as much as 70 million insects per year—mainly ants and termites.” This helps maintain a balance in the ecosystem and also helps keep termites away from humans. It is crucial to save these creatures because they help us and the world around us. Projects like World Pangolin Day work hard to make sure these animals are protected and continue to help the environment.
Sources
“Pangolins: Natural Pest Controllers and Soil Caretakers.” WORLD PANGOLIN DAY, 16 Feb. 2013, www.pangolins.org/2011/11/01/pangolins-natural-pest-controllers-and-soil-caretakers/.
Miller, Perry. “Zimbabwe Hopes to Bring Attention to Trafficking Endangered Species with the Pangolin Project.” Inhabitat Green Design Innovation Architecture Green Building, Inhabitat, 20 Feb. 2019, inhabitat.com/zimbabwe-hopes-to-bring-attention-to-trafficking-endangered-species-with-the-pangolin-project/.
Miller, Perry. “Zimbabwe Hopes to Bring Attention to Trafficking Endangered Species with the Pangolin Project.” Inhabitat Green Design Innovation Architecture Green Building, Inhabitat, 20 Feb. 2019, inhabitat.com/zimbabwe-hopes-to-bring-attention-to-trafficking-endangered-species-with-the-pangolin-project/.