Rangers Rescue Baby Pangolin

On October 17th, a unit from the Tatai Ranger station was heading back from a long patrol when they suddenly noticed fresh footprints on the trail. The team followed the tracks into the forest for a short while before they spotted a hunter’s camp ahead. One of the hunters must have heard the rangers coming, because the camp was abandoned when the rangers got there. Upon arrival, the team searched the campsite and found 38 snares and a small bag containing a live baby Sunda pangolin. The team quickly dismantled the camp, confiscated the snares and took the baby pangolin with them to the station. Knowing the young pangolin wouldn’t be able to survive on its own, it was transferred to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, where it will be provided with round-the-clock care.

The illegal trade in pangolins has reached epic proportions, and these once common animals are now classified as Critically Endangered. They are rarely observed in the wild due to their secretive and solitary habits. Slow moving and lacking teeth, their primary defense is curling up into a ball, making them easy targets for poachers. Pangolins are hunted intensely for their meat and scales, and are also used in traditional medicine and as fashion accessories. To stop this illicit trade from decimating pangolin populations in Cambodia, rangers work day and night, risking their lives to protect nearly 2 million acres of rainforest. Last year alone, they removed 15,440 snares and nets and rescued 448 animals. These rangers are on the frontlines of conservation, and $3,500 will help them rescue more pangolins, conduct vehicle checkpoints, remove traps and stop poachers. Thank you for your continued support, we have 63 days to raise $1,957, and need your help to reach our goal and prevent this shy and gentle species from disappearing forever!