The Magical Pangolin

A rare ancient treasure

Ages 5+

Video Links Require Adult Supervision

3 minute reading + additional video links 1hr

The Pangolin is, “the world’s only truly scaly mammal”, says Sir David Attenborough in the ABC documentary, Pangolins.

The Pangolin is a prehistoric and somewhat mythological looking being that has it’s origins on the continent of Africa and Asia. Looking somewhat similar in appearance to an Aardvark but with scales like pine cones covering nearly all of its body. The Pangolin is a slow-moving, shy and defenceless mammal.

Pangolin is the most hunted mammal on the planet and because of black market poaching also one of the rarest.

Living on planet earth for more than 40 million years, the Pangolin are almost extinct because of the demand for their meat and scales in the Asian pharmaceutical and restaurant trade. Pangolin scales are worth more than ivory on the black market, and with dwindling supplies of the rare animal on the Asian continent, poachers now source Pangolin illegally from Africa.

Extinction is imminent.

In Africa and Vietnam, amazing wildlife warriors are working to save the pangolin in the wild, establishing conservation and rehabilitation projects which are leading the way to understand and protecting the dwindling Pangolin species.

Education and community are crucial to saving our very precious planet and the gorgeous and rare creatures that inhabit it. All over the world animals are being lost forever, never to be seen or heard again. Animals that have lived here for millions of years, before the time of humans are vanishing before our eyes and it is our fault.

To find out more:

Watching Pangolins: Narrated by David Attenborough in iview

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/pangolins-narrated-by-david-attenborough?isMobile=iOS

Conservation

REST’s number one aim in being a good wildlife centre is to practice good conservation first. Founder, Maria Diekmann feels strongly that although research and education are key, conservation of a species must take priority. Extinction makes all other aspects irrelevant to survival. Of course research and education benefit from such efforts.

https://www.restnamibia.org

Guest Contributor: Emily Rack
Business Name: Horatio’s Jar
Publisher: Digital Schools

Emily Rack is a yoga teacher, meditation instructor, freelance writer and visual content creator. She incorporates a unique creative flair into her yoga and meditation classes, courses and workshops. Emily hosts events and classes in schools and the wider community & is passionate about teaching the art of mindfulness.

Tags All About Animals Kid Stuff Mindfulness for Adults Mindfulness for Kids Mindfulness for Teens Natural World Sciences Teens Wellbeing Year Level: 1/2 Year Level: 3/4 Year Level: 5/6

Digital Schools

The content by "Digital Schools" which can be found under the "Guest Contributor" category on this platform is produced by Digital Schools PTY LTD. Digital Schools works in partnership with the school as a 3rd party provider to help build and maintain the school website. As well as this, we assist the school by engaging with a range of experts who already provide products and/or services to educational institutions and we work with them to produce and publish information to this website that we think may be relevant, interesting or topical to families within the community. PLEASE NOTE: The views, opinions and content published by us are that of the "Guest Contributor" and/or publisher (Digital Schools). It should be noted that whilst the publisher and guest contributors are acting with the best intentions and in the best interests of the school and their community, sometimes the content may not necessarily reflect the views of the school. We welcome your feedback. Down the bottom of this page is a feedback form so you can let us know what you think.

New to Explore