Protecting pangolins in Southern Africa

We are delighted to share with you our latest news from the field.

Pelorus Foundation has continued to work with our local grassroots partner in Namibia, Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation (PCRF), a key focus of our GlobalGiving appeal fund. Thank you once again for your support.

Establishing a new reserach and rehabilitation centre

Thanks to local community support with time, additional donor funds, and the gift of a container, PCRF were able to convert the space into a fully functioning pangolin reserach and rehabilitation unit in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. Officially opened in October, it has already received its first rescued pangolins for care.

Through your kind donation we were able to recently support PCRF’s move into new accommodation, comprising both office and residential space. Along with the installation of the new research container, PCRF will now be able to bring in scientific students, interns and academics to work with them and to contribute to the pangolin research and learnings to help ensure the best success of pangolin rehabilitation and safe release.

PCRF have now been able to employ three full-time and 11 part-time local rangers from across five villages.  Proudly wearing PCRF branded uniforms, recently donated by WWF Namibia. The rangers are the first true African pangolin rangers working in communities to keep the pangolins safe whilst collecting data for the whole species, actively tracking, protecting, and rehabilitating pangolins across the Conservancy.

All data collected helps inform conservation management planning, developing methodology and establishing standards of practice.

Update on Penny, recently released pangolin

In our last report we told you about Penny, rescued in a dire state of health from wildlife traffickers. Sadly, things did not turn out the way that we wanted.

Following a recent post release check, and despite our project partner, PCRF’s best efforts, there were just too many factors that played a role in her survival.  With October being one of the driest months of the year, it is difficult to find good foraging habitat for resident pangolins, and even more difficult for confiscated released pangolins. Ultimately, Penny was so traumatised from the trafficking and subsequent miscarriage, that even following three weeks of dedicated rehabilitation, and being ready and fit at the time of release, her multiple health conditions proved too much for her. She, however, was able to live her last weeks in freedom, back in the bush where she belonged, rescued from the cruellest of fates of the illegal meat and traditional medicine trade.

Rehabilitating pangolins is a meticulous process to ensure they have the right environment for burrowing and foraging, and our project partners dedicated local community ranger team continues to monitor rehabilitated pangolins, to help ensure their safety and survival.

Thank you for your kind support

Through your donations to Pelorus Foundation you are helping to protect and preserve our planets endangered wildlife and wild places. We can only do what we do through the support of people like you and we and all our local project partners greatly appreciated you being on this journey to conserve and protect our planets vital biodiversity.

Links:

• Protecting pangolins in South Africa