Mozambique saved 12 pangolins from traffickers in 2022
As first appeared in Faisca Jornal in Mozambique, here. Written by Suizane Rafael.
February 20 2023
National wildlife authorities marked World Pangolin Day with conservation success stories
The endangered mammal holds significant value in cultural beliefs across the nation. Image by Faisca Jornal.
In Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park every day is “pangolin day” but yesterday, February 18th, World Pangolin Day saw Pangolin Rehabilitation Center organised an event to celebrate the occasion.
Elsewhere, in Maputo National Park, authorities reported that 12 Pangolins were saved from trafficking networks in 2022 in the country by national wildlife authorities, the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), the Attorney General's Office and communities.
The National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), in a statement said that there are eight species of this mammal in the world, four of which are found in Asia, and four in Africa.
In Africa, there are Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), Giant Ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) and Temminck's Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii).
The pangolin is considered the most trafficked mammal in the world, ahead of elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn. This despite all eight of the species being protected under national and international laws, and two listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Official data from the UN points to just over 1 million pangolins trafficked, primarily to illegal markets in Asia in the last decade. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region alone, it is estimated that about 50 thousand animals are slaughtered each year to supply the illegal trade.
ANAC celebrated World Pangolin Day in all conservation areas in the country. The authority reported that in 2022, 12 pangolins were rescued by forest and wildlife inspectors from the parks and reserves in coordination with SERNIC and the Attorney General's Office.
The pangolin plays an important role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems, being responsible for the control of some pests, such as ants and termites, keeping the soil aerated and fertile. It is estimated that an adult pangolin can consume over 70 million insects a year.
In Mozambican tradition, the pangolin is known as Eka (in the north), Nkawale (in the central region) and Halakavuma (in the south). The species has invaluable social cultural value, seen as an animal associated with many myths such as the belief that he was sent by God to bring prosperity, rain, good harvests in farms or sometimes as a messenger of negative events with drought and other climatic phenomena.
It is important to emphasise that before globalisation, these myths and beliefs contributed positively to survival of this species, boosting the demand for pangolin products for traditional Asian medicine. This was decisive for the decline of the pangolin population.
At the celebrations in Gorongosa National Park, officials, scientists and employees were able to appreciate these creatures’ myths and learn more about the work of veterinarians and inspectors who, since 2018, have interacted with 98 pangolins, 77 of which were rescued from the clutches of smugglers, the remaining 21 being handed over spontaneously to the Park by local communities.
This article is reproduced here as part of the African Conservation Journalism Programme, funded in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe by USAID’s VukaNow: Activity. Implemented by the international conservation organisation Space for Giants, it aims to expand the reach of conservation and environmental journalism in Africa, and bring more African voices into the international conservation debate. Written articles from the Mozambican and Angolan cohorts are translated from Portuguese. Broadcast stories remain in the original language.
