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| tags: | #Pangolin, #Zimbabwe, #Adrian Steirn, #endangered species, #The Tikki Hywood Trust, #illegal trade, #poaching |
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| located: | Zimbabwe |
| by: | Deniz Zehra Tavli |
It may have occured on your channels recently: A series of incredible portraits of a group of men who dedicate their lives to the most trafficked mammal in the world - the pangolin. The impressive portraits by photojournalist and filmmaker Adrian Steirn showing the pangolins and their caretakers have been released this week as part of a campaign to raise awareness and funds for the protection of the species.
The pangolin is a solitary, primarily nocturnal animal, easily recognized by their full armour of large, plate-like scales. The type of pangolin found in Zimbabwe is the Ground Pangolin, these can weigh up to 20kg. It is an endangered species being poached for its scales which are believed to be useful for medicinal purposes. Globally all eight pangolin species are increasingly threatened with extinction. Burgeoning illegal international trade, increased local trade, habitat loss and a lack of awareness have been found to be the main threats facing pangolins at present.
Committed volunteers from the The Tikki Hywood Trust in Zimbabwe work hard to protect the species with a one-on-one care programme. The charity workers are assigned with one pangolin each, where they spend 24 hours a day rehabilitating and walking the majestic mammals so that they can forage naturally.
The Tikki Hywood Trust undertakes public awareness, train law enforcement and judiciary personnel, conduct research, and rehabilitate pangolins that have been confiscated from the illegal trade. The charity also engages with other organisations and governments throughout Africa to highlight the plight of pangolins, raise awareness of their conservation status and educate them as to the need for conserving pangolins, as well as implementing conservation actions. Many of their activities are not covered by research grants so that the continuation of their work relies on sponsors and donations. Donations are used to train law enforcement and judiciary personnel, rehabilitate confiscated pangolins, raise public awareness and further engage with African role-players to increase the conservation status of pangolins across Africa.
Feel encouraged to support the Tikki Hywood Trust and the "Pangolin Men" by donating or spreading their contents through your preferred channels!
Credits: Adrian Steirn
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