How many are left in the wild is unknown. Pangolins are generally poorly known to the public and their endangered status has so far received much less publicity than in the case of more iconic species. Ground pangolin in the wild in South Africa.
How many pangolins are left in the world?
According to Lourens, it is impossible to determine how many pangolins are left in the world. They are nocturnal and live underground and in enclosed areas such as caves. “Their scales are so tough that an adult lion can’t penetrate them. That’s how they have survived for 80 million years, because they have no natural predator.
How long can a pangolin live for?
Young pangolins are soft-scaled at birth and are carried on the female’s back for some time. Life span in the wild is unknown; however, some captive animals have lived as long as 20 years. A pangolin rolled into a ball presenting erected scales to the enemy.
Restaurants selling pangolin dishes abound in the Vietnamese cities. The skin is served in such dishes as stir-fried pangolin skin with onion and mushroom. And the fetus is eaten as an aphrodisiac. Pangolin scales are sold in plain view in the street markets., and more items.
Another thing we asked ourselves was what are the pangolin’s natural predators?
Humans are the one predator that pangolins have little defense against. Against its natural predators, big cats like lions, tigers and leopards, pangolins can curl up into balls as the following picture shows: Looks like a bad day at the office for this pangolin. Curling up in a ball allows their tough scales to protect them from being eaten.
What is a pangolin and why are they trafficked?
The animals are trafficked mainly for their scales, which are believed to treat a variety of health conditions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and as a luxury food in Vietnam and China. In Africa, pangolins are sold as a form of bushmeat, for ritual or spiritual purposes, and use in traditional African medicine.