PROJECT 25
Did you know?
• Pangolins are so endangered that they are protected by the police, and if you are caught with one without a permit, there are repercussions
• You cannot own a pangolin – in the household or public
• Pangolins are shy, nocturnal animals
• A pangolin’ s diet consists of mostly ants, ant eggs and termites, which they eat with their very long and sticky tongues
• There are eight species of pangolins – two are critically endangered, two are endangered and four are considered vulnerable 1
• A pangolin is poached every five minutes 1
• When threatened, pangolins roll themselves into a ball.
• Pangolins cannot be kept in captivity at all
• World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of February annually, this year falling on 21 February 2026
When threatened, Pangolins roll into a ball.
Zoey Sung | Pexels
Police and individuals who find injured animals can bring them to the facility, the location of which is kept confidential. There is another reason for the confidentiality of the location – the Kalahari Wildlife Project protects one of the most poached and trafficked animals in the world: Pangolins.
What is a pangolin? Pangolins are one of the most endangered and trafficked species in the world – being needlessly killed and poached for their perceived value. Some people believe that the scales of a pangolin have the same value as rhino horns( being made of keratin) for Eastern medicine. However, in reality, their scales do not have any medical
February 2026 Volume 31 I Number 12 www. plumbingafrica. co. za