Today is World Pangolin Day!
Pangolins (aka scaly anteaters) are mammals native to sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia.
They are known for having a scaly-looking hide. This hide is made from keratin, the same substance in human finger and toenails. They mainly eat ants and termites. Much like anteaters, they use long tongues to capture said insects. They hunt insects with their powerful senses of smell and hearing, as they have poor vision. In fact, they help keep termite populations under control in their habitats. Interestingly, they also ingest small rocks. This is an aid in digesting the insects they eat because they have no teeth.
Some pangolins are arboreal, which means they live in trees. Others live on the ground and dig tunnels. Most pangolins are nocturnal. They're also solitary animals, only meeting other pangolins for reproductive purposes. Pangolin pregnancies can last from 70 to 140 days, depending on the species. They have live births (like humans), the African pangolins having one baby at a time, and the Asiatic ones can have one to three at the time.
Pangolins' biggest threat is humans. Their scales are harvested for traditional Chinese medical treatments. There is a demand for these treatments, despite the lack of scientific evidence of effectiveness. Attempts to breed pangolins in captivity have not worked very well due to their specialized diet and need for lots of space. In Taiwan, though, attempts at pangolin conservation have been more successful, and they now have the most pangolins in the world.
So yeah, pangolins are fascinating creatures. Hopefully, they'll be with us for a very long time. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!
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