~ The Eye of the Pangolin ~
World Pangolin Day 2024 is on 17 February, a day to raise awareness of pangolins or scaly anteaters, one of the most unique and endangered mammals on Earth. Their scales are harvested for traditional medicines that see them as cure-alls.
Pangolins are a very rare species and very difficult to see on a safari. One evening, on our way back to camp we happened to see a Temminck's Ground Pangolin.
Pangolins are almost completely covered in overlapping, protective scales, which makes up about 20% of their body weight. The scales are composed of keratin, the same material that forms human hair and fingernails, and give pangolins an appearance similar to a pinecone or artichoke. The underside of a pangolin is not covered with scales, but sparse fur, instead. When threatened, it usually rolls up into a ball, thus protecting its vulnerable belly. Pangolins are 30 to 90 cm long exclusive of the tail and weigh from 5 to 27 kg (Wikipedia).
Seen and admired somewhere in Botswana, Africa
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oFalhPrdUs&t=10s
~ The Eye of the Pangolin ~
World Pangolin Day 2024 is on 17 February, a day to raise awareness of pangolins or scaly anteaters, one of the most unique and endangered mammals on Earth. Their scales are harvested for traditional medicines that see them as cure-alls.
Pangolins are a very rare species and very difficult to see on a safari. One evening, on our way back to camp we happened to see a Temminck's Ground Pangolin.
Pangolins are almost completely covered in overlapping, protective scales, which makes up about 20% of their body weight. The scales are composed of keratin, the same material that forms human hair and fingernails, and give pangolins an appearance similar to a pinecone or artichoke. The underside of a pangolin is not covered with scales, but sparse fur, instead. When threatened, it usually rolls up into a ball, thus protecting its vulnerable belly. Pangolins are 30 to 90 cm long exclusive of the tail and weigh from 5 to 27 kg (Wikipedia).
Seen and admired somewhere in Botswana, Africa
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oFalhPrdUs&t=10s