Now the unusual sighting! We saw in great detail and openness a live pangolin in daylight! This was a very fortuitous event. Experienced safari guides either have never seen a pangolin, or have only seen partly concealed in shrubbery.
Pangolins are ant eating mammals covered in scales made of keratin, which provide protection against predators. The scales account for about 20% of their weight, and the animal protects itself by curling into a ball. The pangolin has a long, broad tail and a small head, and has no external ears although the hearing is quite good. The tongue is wormlike and can extend up to 25 cm in length. The legs are short, and the feet have sharp claws. They are primarily nocturnal and also shy, making them difficult to find.
Pangolins feed mainly on termites but also eat ants and other insects. They range in size from a large housecat to more than four feet long.
They tend to be solitary except when mating. Some fathers will stay in the den until the single offspring is independent.
There are 8 species of pangolin, 4 in Asia and 4 in Africa. They are trafficked at high rates for their scales and meat. In 2016 CITES, the treaty that regulates the international wildlife trade, voted to ban commercial trade in pangolins. For many years the Asian species were the primary target of poachers and traffickers, but African animals are now under increasing attack. It is believed to be the world’s most trafficked non-human animal.
The Carefree Photographer 