African Pangolin Working Group

Animals that burrow have special traits known as fossorial adaptations. In pangolins, these include their well-developed claws, and their small ears that are close to the head. They have developed special muscles that seal their nostrils and ears. This is especially useful to prevent the preferred diet of ants and termites from gaining access to ears and nostrils. Pangolins have highly sensitive hearing with individuals rescued from the trade displaying signs of stress around deep voices (possible reminder of their captors). Despite making very little sound themselves, this sensitivity does not save them from being captured for use in the illegal wildlife trade. African Pangolin Working Group is grateful for the support of Humane Society International - Africa in helping to protect pangolins when they cannot do so themselves. photo: Gareth Thomas

John Moore is a master printmaker and fine artist. He has an affinity for the mystical which is shown in the way he depicts his subject matter. We have four of John's artworks in our fundraising auction, each one is different and each one shows a different aspect of pangolins. In order to see all of John's pangolin artworks and to be able to see them in the flesh, you need a ticket to our event at Circa which takes place in just over a month's time. Good food and wine, an oscar winning guest speaker, and great art - what's not to love about this event? tickets are available from quicket: https://qkt.io/Pangolin Ticket numbers are limited and more than half of them have been sold. Don't miss out! image: John Moore - Printshaman Master Printmaker

Excellent team work by the Nigerian Customs Service and the Wild Life Office! https://lnkd.in/eHeGNm-4

June 5th is World Environment Day, and this year’s focus is on preserving healthy land, combating desertification, and curbing drought - all of which profoundly impact the animal kingdom, especially species on the brink of extinction. Pangolins are such species, but luckily, they have developed physiologial tools to help them survive. A little-known pangolin survival tool is their sense of smell. Pangolins have a well-developed olfactory system that allows them to detect ants, termites, and their larvae through scent. Over millions of years, this specialization has evolved to help pangolins find their underground food sources, which are crucial for their survival. Sadly, their fantastic sense of smell cannot save the Pangolin from the hands of poachers. @AfricanPangolinWorkinGroup is grateful for the support of @HSI/Africa. Helping to protect pangolins and their environment is a team effort, which we invite all of you to join. #WorldEnvironmentDay #SaveThePangolins #ProtectOurPlanet Photo: @human.kind.photography

What could be better than bidding on a luxury bushveld getaway for two? Umlani Bushcamp is located in the Timbavati Nature Reserve, part of a block of private reserves that border Kruger National Park. This getaway includes accommodation for two adults in a double room, all meals, local brand drinks, optional daily walk and two game drives per day. In order to have a chance of placing the winning bid on this item, you have to buy a ticket to our fundraiser on 25 July at Circa Gallery. It will be an evening of exceptional art, listening to an oscar winning director, and rubbing shoulders with pangolin people. Tickets available via africanpangolin.org or directly from quicket https://qkt.io/Pangolin (over half the tickets are sold - so don't take too long to make up your mind!)

Robert Rorich is a sculptor who explores the relationship of man to the natural world. He first highlighted the plight of the pangolin in his Transcendence exhibition in 2022. This was inspired by a sighting of a pangolin in Kruger National Park. The African Pangolin Working Group is honoured to have Pangolin and Boy by Robert Rorich as an artwork for the fundraiser on 25 July at the Circa Gallery. Nearly half the tickets are sold, with 2 months to go. Don't miss out on a wonderful evening of oscar winners, pangolin people and incredible artwork. Bookings via our website or via quicket. https://qkt.io/Pangolin

We are thrilled to announce Pippa Ehrlich as the guest speaker at our fundraising event, Together for Pangolins. Pippa is the writer and director of My Octopus Teacher for which she won multiple international awards, including an Oscar and a BAFTA. In an upcoming project, Pippa will be bringing an intimate relationship with pangolins, to the screen - in collaboration with African Pangolin Working Group and others. The event is on 25 July, at CIRCA Gallery. Tickets can be booked via quicket https://qkt.io/Pangolin Find Pippa on instagram: @the_rewilding and on facebook Sea Change Project

With the celebration of International Day of Biological Diversity it is appropriate for us to post Part 2 of the collaboration between African Pangolin Working Group and Humane Society International - Africa highlighting specialist adaptations for survival in Temmink’s pangolins. CLAWS – Pangolins have developed large, strong claws on their front limbs. These specialised tools are used to dig open termite mounds, ant nests and tree bark to get to their juicy inhabitants. This digging behaviour contributes to the mechanical breakdown of organic matter that aids in the cycling of minerals and nutrients through the ecosystems in which they live. image from Gareth Thomas

As the only scaled mammals on the planet, pangolins are perfectly adapted to survive attack from predators. Humans, the only predators they cannot escape, are the ones that want the very items that save them in the wild – scales. Imagine a world where there is no need for an Endangered Species Day, and help to make it happen.

The Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), along with other pangolin species has some remarkable survival tools which have evolved over the 84 million years that pangolins have been on Earth. We have teamed up with Humane Society International - Africa to highlight some of the perfect adaptations of these extraordinary creatures. PROTECTION – As the only scaled mammal on the planet, pangolins have developed hard, keratinous scales that form an outer armour which protects the vulnerable belly. image: Manyoni Private Game Reserve