Ranger at forefront of pangolin rescue
A Hoedspruit antipoaching ranger, Glen Thompson (41), is at the forefront of protecting pangolins from the illegal wildlife trade.
Thompson became a member of the prestigious IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, a voluntary network of experts from around the world including fi eld biologists, social scientists, zoologists, veterinarians, ecologists, and geneticists, all of whom are actively involved in pangolin research and conservation, at the end of last year. Thompson has been working in conservation since May 2015 when he started as a ‘boots on the ground’ ranger at the Protrack anti poaching unit in Hoedspruit. He was promoted to crime scene manager and his duties included rhino and elephant autopsies.
He also did a short course in wildlife forensics and chain of custody training. “I had my fi rst pangolin encounter in 2016 where I got to meet Prof Ray Jansen and started to learn more about the plight of the pangolin.” In 2017/2018 he worked for Hemmersbach Rhinoforce and got involved with the recovery of pangolins from the illegal wildlife trade.“I worked closely with the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG). My main focus was to improve communication with law enforcement and following the correct protocols regarding the chain of custody and detailed reports for case dockets and the prosecutors,” he says.
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In 2019 he started working for the APWG. “I have spent many hours walking pangolins in rehab as well as travelling all over South Africa assisting the police with the transport of recovered pangolins,” he adds. In 2022 he left the APWG and now works for Transfrontier Africa and runs their pangolin project where he collaborates with role players. “I work closely with the local environmental agencies and police. I also collaborate with Prof Jansen in keeping the South African national database up to date with all recoveries as well as assisting in court testimonies regarding the chain of custody of the transport of pangolins.
“I also work with Pangolin Africa managing the PangoAlert sightings by the general public as well as information regarding pangolins in the trade where I have a network to assist with recoveries.” He also works with law enforcement educating them on the correct protocols when it comes to statements that are required by prosecutors. “I have built a very good relationship with the relevant law enforcement agencies in South Africa. “I have always had a love for wildlife, and I am happy when I am able to rescue a pangolin from the illegal wildlife trade,” Thomson concludes.
