Top 5 facts about Pangolins

1. Pangolin means 'roller'

The word Pangolin comes from ‘penggulung,’ the Malay word for roller – the action a pangolin takes in self-defense. A startled pangolin will cover its head with its front legs, exposing its scales to any potential predator. If touched or grabbed it will roll up completely into a ball, while the sharp scales on the tail can be used to lash out.

Pangolins are also referred to as 'scaly anteaters' because of their preferred diet - ants.

2. There are eight species of pangolin

Four species of pangolin can be found in Africa, and four in Asia.

The four species that live in Africa are:

1. Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla)
2. White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis)
3. Giant Ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea)
4. Temminck's Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)

The four species that live in Asia are:

1. Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
2. Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis)
3. Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica)
4. Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)

3. Pangolins are threatened

All eight pangolin species are protected under national and international laws, and two are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

4. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world

In China and Vietnam, pangolins are highly prized by consumers for their meat and their unique scales.

While they are a potent defence against predators, their scales are useless against poachers, and all eight species in Asia and Africa are now under threat.

Over the past decade, over a million pangolins have been illegally taken from the wild to feed demand in China and Vietnam. Their meat is considered a delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine as they are believed to treat a range of ailments from asthma to rheumatism and arthritis.

5. You can help pangolins