Protecting Pangolins

The Illegal trade in pangolins has spiked dramatically in the last few years due to the demand for pangolin scales and meat commonly destined for China and Vietnam where the meat is eaten and the scales are believed to cure a range of medical problems. In Africa the mammals are sought for bush meat or for their scales to be used in a wide variety of ethno-medicinal and spiritual uses. 

Uganda is in the unique position of potentially being home to all four of the Pangolin species native to Africa, but there is a significant knowledge gap across the whole country and very little is known about their geographical distribution, ecology or behaviour. 

Thanks to support from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, the Ugandan Conservation Foundation (UCF) has begun the first pangolin conservation project in Uganda. Working in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the project also brings together expertise and support from WildAid and the Tikki Hywood Trust, Zimbabwe who are sharing their valuable expertise in helping to train selected individuals to become 'pangolin specialists' 

Ugandan Conservation Foundation Pangolin Project leader Rebecca Sandoval said, "We are hoping these measures will lead to the increased protection and conservation of pangolin species in Uganda and improved implementation of the recent up-listing at CITES. The willingness of Uganda to take steps to support pangolin conservation provides an important opportunity to learn more about how to effectively protect the various species, and how they might be conserved in other countries across Africa."

Thank you for your support towards this new project and we look forward to keeping you updated! 

Links:

• Find out more about our work with Pangolins in Uganda