Pangolin Awareness

[the-fairy-squad-mother]

I’d like to introduce you to….

The pangolin

It walks on its two hind legs

Nicknamed the Walking Artichoke

or the Anteater Pinecones

They look utterly ridiculous and they are my favourite thing you’re welcome and goodbye

[knowyourpangolin]

Also, these little guys are critically endangered. Let’s keep these critters around a little longer by stopping poachers worldwide.

[wormpy]

here’s some pangolins bc they need more love ♡

[knowyourpangolin]

Another great resource on Pangolin conservation is the WWF website.

[knowyourpangolin]

Here’s an awesome video on pangolins by Animal Logic.

[knowyourpangolin]

Why Pangolins?

Ok, so pangolins are just about as tumblr as it gets. For starters, they are the weirdest mixture of odd and adorable that makes posting about them just irresistible.

They seem to be some sort of mixture between an armadillo, an and eater and a T-Rex. In fact they are none of these things, but rather a the only living member of the family Manidae. Oh and also, they carry their babies on their backs.

So yeah. They’re really cute. So other than to bless your life, why would I be bringing your attention to this majestic creature? Well it turns out, most species of pangolin are endangered with two species being critically endangered. Why you may ask? Well unfortunately this is due to overhunting by humans.

So why would anyone want to kill one of these magnificent animals? Well in parts of China and Vietnam, the meat is considered a delicacy and the scales are sold as traditional medicine. However, there is little to no evidence that suggests these scales have any medicinal effects. In fact, pangolin scales are made of carotin, the same stuff your fingernails are made from. You might as well just crush up your extra nail clippings and put them in some tea. It would have about the same effect.

This is a huge threat as pangolins play a vital role in the ecosystem as their long tongues help them to control termite populations. The biggest issue is lack of awareness. Let’s be honest, how many of you knew what a pangolin was before you read this? I’m going to guess not many. So if you really want to help, then spread the word. Reblog this post. Tweet it out. Make sure everyone knows about these critters before it’s too late.

Most importantly, if you see something, say something. The pangolin trade is highly illegal worldwide. If you see or hear about someone selling pangolin meat or scales, then report it to your local authorities.