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Mom and baby pangolin get a second chance

A mission to rescue a pangolin confiscated in Kuruman in the Northern Cape led to a local foundation sponsoring a flight to the Northern Cape to have it treated at Provet Animal Hospital.

Provet said on Facebook that a female Temminck’s ground pangolin was confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and upon assessment, the veterinarian in Kuruman discovered that she was clutching a newborn pup, a little male, still wrapped in the afterbirth. “Pangolins will often deliver pups early, when under extreme stress and trauma. The decision was made to send both pangolins to Provetfor treatment and rehabilitation.”

The Aspinall Foundation sponsored the entire cost of the flight by Jana Meyer of Wildlife Helicopter Services. Dr Debbie English said upon arrival at Provet, it was found that the female had no milk to offer her baby. The baby pangolin had already lost 30g since his initial weigh-in, she said. “His blood sugar levels were also so low that the machine could not even pick up a reading.

The rescued baby pangolin.

Also read: Police arrest Kruger Park ranger for trying to sell a pangolin

“My supporting team and I had to make the heartbreaking decision of separating mom and baby, as this would offer both animals the best chance at survival. “Sarabi (as the mom was named) sustained a nasty wound to her head when the poachers tried to forcefully uncurl her body with a spade, while she was curled up in her defensive position.”

Pangolin being treated.

The team is hopeful that the wound will heal quickly and that the female will be released back into her natural habitat fairly soon, she added. English thanked Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre, Emma de Jager, and Tzaneen Animal Clinic for the incredible work that they have done. “The little boy will be handreared until he is strong and independent enough to survive in the wild.

Despite the expected initial difficulties to feed him, he has picked up weight nicely and is in good health, but he has a very long rehabilitation journey ahead of him.” She said to support the baby pangolin’s recovery, donations can be made to the Scales Pangolin Rescue Fund. Call Amy Aucamp-Clark at 078 993 5678 to contribute to this non-profit organisation.

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Emelda Tintswalo Shipalana

Tintswalo Shipalana, a journalist for the Letaba Herald, has been in the media industry for over a decade. She started her journey in radio, but ended up in print which is her first love. She joined the Herald newspaper as a cadet in 2016, where she graduated with a journalism qualification from the Caxton Training Academy. She also has a qualification in Feature Writing from the University of Cape Town and a Media Management qualification from Wits University. She is completing her BA Communication Science degree with UNISA. She sleeps well at night knowing she is a voice to the voiceless and her work contributes to promoting local talent, businesses and service delivery. Her love for her community keeps her working hard every day.

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