Save the Temminck's Pangolin in South Africa

As South Africa transitions from the heat of summer into the cooler, drier days of winter, the Scales Pangolin Rescue Fund continues its vital work thanks to your generous support. Your donations have funded critical veterinary care, rehabilitation, monitoring equipment, and safe releases at secure, undisclosed locations. Our long-term stars — Biscuit, Ntombi and her growing pup, and Archie — remain strong in the wild. Over the past months, new tales of courage and recovery have unfolded, from quiet determination to full freedom, each one made possible by donors like you.

Isabella has impressed everyone with her steady progress. Rescued in November 2025, severely dehydrated and covered in ticks after days in a bag, she received expert care at Hoedspruit Animal Hospital - ProVet before moving to Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre. She began her soft release in early January and has settled beautifully — confidently navigating rocky terrain, foraging well, and gaining weight steadily. Johnny, our patient little male who arrived underweight in August 2025, finally reached his 6kg release weight and stepped into his soft release site once the summer floods passed. He is already modifying his first burrow and exploring with natural confidence.

We’ve also celebrated wonderful milestones with pangolins who have reclaimed their wild lives. Paige is now completely free — tags removed, fully independent with her healthy pup by her side. Olive, rescued in horrific condition in 2023 (covered in oil and burns, blind from infection), continues to amaze: she has successfully raised two pups in the wild and is thriving without monitoring. Faith remains content in her soft release, calmly claiming her territory, while Nemo, the determined fighter rescued after 10 days in captivity, showed incredible spirit — returning to the bush within a month and foraging naturally from the moment he touched the ground.

The past weeks also brought both challenge and hope. In one intense day, our partners rescued three pangolins and helped arrest nine suspects. While we sadly lost one small female despite heroic veterinary efforts, the other two — including a pregnant female and tiny Kuru — continue fighting and receiving round-the-clock care. Kuru, in particular, is starting to turn the corner and grow stronger daily. Though not every story ends happily, every operation removes threats from the trade and gives survivors the best chance possible.

Your support turns these difficult rescues into second chances and creates ripple effects that reach new life in the wild. As cooler winter days settle in, we are deeply grateful to stand with you in protecting these remarkable animals.

With heartfelt thanks from the bush,

As summer heat blankets South Africa’s bushveld and the bush comes alive with new growth, your continued support keeps the Scales Pangolin Rescue Fund moving forward. Since our last report, your donations have directly funded emergency veterinary interventions, specialised rehabilitation, post-release monitoring, and the logistics that bring pangolins safely home. Our earlier stars—Biscuit, Ntombi, and Archie—remain strong: Biscuit forages boldly, Ntombi and her pup share burrow life captured on camera traps, and Archie commands his territory with ease. Over recent months, a new wave of rescues, remarkable recoveries, and successful returns to the wild has unfolded—each one powered by the generosity of donors like you.

Shumi’s transformation has been breathtaking. Rescued in early July 2025, dehydrated, underweight, and wounded, this determined female adored ants at tree bases. After initial care at Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital and dedicated rehab at Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre, she took flight home (thanks to The Bateleurs) and began her soft release in November. Summer monitoring shows her thriving—gaining weight steadily, exploring with curiosity, and moving like she was born wild again. From a traumatised rescue to a confident forager under the summer sun, Shumi embodies what second chances can achieve.

Plum, Faith, and Heritage each fought their way back to freedom in their own inspiring style. Plum needed a patient second try in a more suitable area; now at 7 kg, she confidently emerges from burrows she chose herself and forages with real gusto. Faith, ever the happy-go-lucky spirit, settled quickly after her pre-Christmas soft release—rolling through grass, claiming territory, and radiating joy. Heritage’s journey was the toughest: rescued on Heritage Day barely able to walk, pioneering MRI scans at Provet Animal Hospital uncovered spinal abscesses, followed by a hidden biliary infection discovered just before release. After targeted treatment and final clear tests, she stepped into the wild—strong, steady, and free. These females now roam, dig, and rest in the warmth of summer because of skilled care and monitoring your support makes possible.

Bamba’s confidence grows stronger every day—more than three months post-release he’s fully settled in his chosen territory, healthy and untouchable, with tracking tags soon to be removed. Paige delivered the season’s brightest news: trail cameras confirmed she is successfully nursing a healthy pup in the wild, turning her own rescue from a deep snare wound into new life for her species. While one heartbreaking story reminds us of the cruelty we fight—a trafficked male from Malawi who did not survive—the arrest made in that operation removes another poacher and protects future pangolins.

Every rescue flight, every MRI, every camera-trap glimpse of a mother and pup, every confident step back into the bush is made possible by you. Thank you for standing with us through every challenge and triumph as we give these extraordinary animals the summer freedom they deserve.

With warmest thanks from the summer bush,
The Scales Pangolin Rescue Fund Team