Pangolin.Africa, a leading non-profit dedicated to the conservation of pangolins, recently launched the Pangolert number: +27 (0)72 726 4654 – a vital tool for reporting pangolin sightings and alerting authorities to illegal trafficking in Africa.
Pangolins have been the most heavily trafficked mammal for over a decade. An estimated 195,000 pangolins were trafficked globally in 2019 for their scales alone (Challender, et. al, 2020).
“With little funding dedicated to population assessment, the true impact of trafficking remains largely hidden,” explains Toby Jermyn, Founder of Pangolin.Africa.
Jermyn encourages anyone who witnesses a pangolin – whether in the wild, in distress, in captivity, or being harmed – to take a picture and report their sighting and location immediately via WhatsApp message using the Pangolert number.
The Pangolert team operates 24/7, connecting callers to a vetted network of veterinarians, NGOs, and law enforcement officials across central and southern Africa. This ensures swift action when pangolins are at risk.
“This simple action could help save a pangolin’s life and contribute vital data that informs conservation efforts,” Jermyn says.
Beyond emergency responses, Pangolert is central to an ambitious effort to document historical and current pangolin sightings. Whether a pangolin was spotted yesterday or several years ago, reports made via WhatsApp messages (not calls) to the Pangolert number help conservationists track populations and understand their distribution in Africa.
According to Jermyn, these reports enhance authorities’ understanding of pangolin behaviours and vulnerabilities. “Poaching often leaves no trace behind. By building a reliable sighting database, we can proactively protect pangolins rather than just reacting to crises.”
In Africa there are four species: Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), Giant Ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) and Temminck’s Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii). Pangolins are vital for ecosystem balance, consuming up to 70 million ants and termites yearly, and, as a result, helping to prevent vegetation loss. Their burrowing also aids soil turnover and seed germination – but with females birthing only one pup, every 12 to 18 months if conditions are optimal, every pangolin saved is crucial for survival.
Pangolin.Africa’s network of specialised veterinary and rehabilitation centres is integral to ensuring Pangolert’s success and protecting Africa’s pangolins. This network is called to action when a rescued or injured pangolin is reported.
Among these trusted clinics is the Northern Cape-based Kalahari Wildlife Project, headed up by Machel Van Niekerk. The only rehabilitation facility in the region dedicated to treating pangolins, it focuses on treating animals in their natural environment to ensure a safe return to the wild.
“Getting to an injured pangolin as quickly as possible is essential if we want veterinary care to be effective, and Pangolert is a huge advantage in making that possible,” says Van Niekerk. “Our work with Pangolin.Africa has not only helped to save several pangolins from the trade, but it’s also motivated our community to work together to save a species.”
While Pangolin.Africa is primarily supported by Pangolin Photo Safaris, donations and corporate partnerships are also welcome to expand the project’s reach.
“We must work together to stop this crisis,” Jermyn urges. “It starts with one message and one pangolin saved. The simplest way to join the fight is to put the Pangolert number in your phone as you never know when you might need it.”
