The wonderful mysterious Pangolin

[Jessie C]

Many of you here on DP know I'm an animal lover, and a cult follower of DirecTV's Animal planet network. Funny how you can reach 68 years of age, thinking you know all things animal, just to find out you don't.

Pangolins are one of the most trafficked animals in the world, but you may have never heard of them. If that’s the case, it’s time to learn everything there is to know about the pangolin—because these amazing animals are in urgent need of our help.

I have one question here....why do us supposedly intelligent human beings think it's a good idea to take a wild animal out of it's natural habitat? Humans suck.

Pangolins are a unique group of insect-eating animals, feeding mainly on termites and ants. They may look like reptiles, with their bodies covered in overlapping scales, but they’re actually mammals! Pangolins are about the size of a house cat, with small heads, long snouts, and thick tails. These prehistoric mammals, which have been around for 80 million years, are now threatened with extinction.

Did you know that pangolins are the only mammals in the world covered in scales? Made of keratin—the same material that makes fingernails and hair—the pangolin’s sand-coloured scales protect it from predators. When threatened, pangolins roll into a tight ball to shield their soft underparts.

Pangolins are native to Africa and Asia. They can be found in woodland and savannah habitats. Some live in trees while others live on the ground. The tree-climbing species make homes for themselves in hollow trees, while the ground-dwelling species dig deep burrows for nesting. Pangolins and armadillos are both mammals, like us, but they’re not considered close relatives to one another. Pangolins and armadillos do look similar, but pangolins are actually more closely related to dogs, cats, and bears than they are to armadillos.

A wonderful, fascinating mammal. Thank God there are good humans in this world trying to save this ancient breed.

Pangolins Are The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal | IFAW

Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals. Targeted for the exotic pet trade, medicines, and luxury meat, find out how IFAW is helping to save them

www.ifaw.org

 

[Lursa]

Many of you here on DP know I'm an animal lover, and a cult follower of DirecTV's Animal planet network. Funny how you can reach 68 years of age, thinking you know all things animal, just to find out you don't.

Pangolins are one of the most trafficked animals in the world, but you may have never heard of them. If that’s the case, it’s time to learn everything there is to know about the pangolin—because these amazing animals are in urgent need of our help.

I have one question here....why do us supposedly intelligent human beings think it's a good idea to take a wild animal out of it's natural habitat? Humans suck.

Pangolins are a unique group of insect-eating animals, feeding mainly on termites and ants. They may look like reptiles, with their bodies covered in overlapping scales, but they’re actually mammals! Pangolins are about the size of a house cat, with small heads, long snouts, and thick tails. These prehistoric mammals, which have been around for 80 million years, are now threatened with extinction.

Did you know that pangolins are the only mammals in the world covered in scales? Made of keratin—the same material that makes fingernails and hair—the pangolin’s sand-coloured scales protect it from predators. When threatened, pangolins roll into a tight ball to shield their soft underparts.

Pangolins are native to Africa and Asia. They can be found in woodland and savannah habitats. Some live in trees while others live on the ground. The tree-climbing species make homes for themselves in hollow trees, while the ground-dwelling species dig deep burrows for nesting. Pangolins and armadillos are both mammals, like us, but they’re not considered close relatives to one another. Pangolins and armadillos do look similar, but pangolins are actually more closely related to dogs, cats, and bears than they are to armadillos.

A wonderful, fascinating mammal. Thank God there are good humans in this world trying to save this ancient breed.

Pangolins Are The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal | IFAW

Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals. Targeted for the exotic pet trade, medicines, and luxury meat, find out how IFAW is helping to save them

www.ifaw.org

They're taking the pangolins for the same reasons they kill elephants for their tusks and rhinos for their horns. Stupid myths and $$$$$$$$.

I follow several African and Asian wildlife sites on Instagram...the trade is brutal. There are rhinos and elephants in Africa that have 24/7 armed guards. And the pangolins are very much in danger. Fortunately, they're harder to find than the giant mammals.

 

[Jessie C]

They're taking the pangolins for the same reasons they kill elephants for their tusks and rhinos for their horns. Stupid myths and $$$$$$$$.

I follow several African and Asian wildlife sites on Instagram...the trade is brutal. There are rhinos and elephants in Africa that have 24/7 armed guards. And the pangolins are very much in danger. Fortunately, they're harder to find than the giant mammals.

Heartbreaking. Pangolins make terrible pets and rarely live long in captivity. I watch a lot of a Tampa Zoo show on Animal Planet, and they, among many other rescue sites are doing their best to recreate their normal environment, promote breeding, and build their populations. It's so tragic. The plight of Elephants, Rhino's, and other of this earths largest mammals is horrific. Human beings truly truly suck. I'm so ashamed to be an American, I'm equally ashamed to be a human.

 

[holbritter]

Many of you here on DP know I'm an animal lover, and a cult follower of DirecTV's Animal planet network. Funny how you can reach 68 years of age, thinking you know all things animal, just to find out you don't.

Pangolins are one of the most trafficked animals in the world, but you may have never heard of them. If that’s the case, it’s time to learn everything there is to know about the pangolin—because these amazing animals are in urgent need of our help.

I have one question here....why do us supposedly intelligent human beings think it's a good idea to take a wild animal out of it's natural habitat? Humans suck.

Pangolins are a unique group of insect-eating animals, feeding mainly on termites and ants. They may look like reptiles, with their bodies covered in overlapping scales, but they’re actually mammals! Pangolins are about the size of a house cat, with small heads, long snouts, and thick tails. These prehistoric mammals, which have been around for 80 million years, are now threatened with extinction.

Did you know that pangolins are the only mammals in the world covered in scales? Made of keratin—the same material that makes fingernails and hair—the pangolin’s sand-coloured scales protect it from predators. When threatened, pangolins roll into a tight ball to shield their soft underparts.

Pangolins are native to Africa and Asia. They can be found in woodland and savannah habitats. Some live in trees while others live on the ground. The tree-climbing species make homes for themselves in hollow trees, while the ground-dwelling species dig deep burrows for nesting. Pangolins and armadillos are both mammals, like us, but they’re not considered close relatives to one another. Pangolins and armadillos do look similar, but pangolins are actually more closely related to dogs, cats, and bears than they are to armadillos.

A wonderful, fascinating mammal. Thank God there are good humans in this world trying to save this ancient breed.

Pangolins Are The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal | IFAW

Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals. Targeted for the exotic pet trade, medicines, and luxury meat, find out how IFAW is helping to save them

www.ifaw.org

I saw a documentary on this, I think it was on Animal Planet or Nat Geo. Never heard of a Pangolin until then, and was horrified. Yes, humans can no doubt suck!

 

[Infinite Chaos]

A wonderful, fascinating mammal.

I love the way the mothers carry their babies around.

 

[Lursa]

Heartbreaking. Pangolins make terrible pets and rarely live long in captivity. I watch a lot of a Tampa Zoo show on Animal Planet, and they, among many other rescue sites are doing their best to recreate their normal environment, promote breeding, and build their populations. It's so tragic. The plight of Elephants, Rhino's, and other of this earths largest mammals is horrific. Human beings truly truly suck. I'm so ashamed to be an American, I'm equally ashamed to be a human.

It's not really about making them pets. It's about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Their scales are made of similar material as rhino horn and are used in primitive, superstitious Asian medicine cures, like for male potency.

 

[Fearandloathing]

Heartbreaking. Pangolins make terrible pets and rarely live long in captivity. I watch a lot of a Tampa Zoo show on Animal Planet, and they, among many other rescue sites are doing their best to recreate their normal environment, promote breeding, and build their populations. It's so tragic. The plight of Elephants, Rhino's, and other of this earths largest mammals is horrific. Human beings truly truly suck. I'm so ashamed to be an American, I'm equally ashamed to be a human.

I feel for Pangolins, but where I live we're fighting to keep humpbacks alive. And Orca aren't doing all that well either.

The local story here is a female who has been carrying her dead calf on her head for several weeks. She kept the last still born until it fell apart

 

[Lursa]

I feel for Pangolins, but where I live we're fighting to keep humpbacks alive. And Orca aren't doing all that well either.

The local story here is a female who has been carrying her dead calf on her head for several weeks. She kept the last still born until it fell apart

Its one of our pods too. It's Tahlequah

 

[Jessie C]

I feel for Pangolins, but where I live we're fighting to keep humpbacks alive. And Orca aren't doing all that well either.

The local story here is a female who has been carrying her dead calf on her head for several weeks. She kept the last still born until it fell apart

I saw the female carrying her dead calf on an episode of National Geographic! Absolutely heartbreaking and tragic...just goes to show the level of caring and bonding and grief these amazing animals feel.