By Amy Aucamp-Clark | Project Leader
Artie is the latest patient to join our rehabilitation program after being confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade in a sting operation in Mpumalanga just over a month ago. It is believed he had been held in captivity for at least 8 or 9 days before he was confiscated. Captive pangolins are general held in cramped conditions without access to drinking water or food and this was no acception for poor little Artie.
He was found emaciated and severly dehydrated, so he was rushed to intensive care. When he was admitted they also found him to be suffering from pneumonia! It was touch and go as Artie spent a week in intensive care, but the amazing veterianary team were able to pull him through and get him stable enough to begin his rehabilitation journey.
Artie is a shy little male, that not surprisingly has taken a long time to start trusting humans again and start feeding by himself on his daily walks. He still visits the vets once a week for a little boost via a tube feeding. This is not something the rehab team like to do if they can help it as it is a rather intrusive process, but in Artie's case it is absolutely nesscary to ensure he stays healthy. He is now on the road to recovery, but he still has a long way to go and he will be with us for many months before we will be able to start his release program to get him back into the wild,
*All pangolins are housed off-site at an undisclosed, secue location*
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