Electrocution ‘biggest’ cause of pangolin deaths
"I would go as to say that there are more pangolins killed by electricity in South Africa than through poaching."
Electrocution is probably the biggest contributor to pangolin deaths, more so than poaching. This is according to Dr Debbie English from Provet Animal Hospital at a pangolin awareness talk held on Tuesday, February 27 at the Thirsty Giraffe in Hoedspruit. She said trip-wire fences at game reserves are one of the biggest causes of electrocutions.
“We are not against it, it is necessary to have them, but pangolins walking on their back legs get entangled in the strands that are about 15 to 20 cm off the ground. “Their first defence mechanism is to curl around that strand, and they hold on to death,” said English. “Most electrocutions we get are dead on arrival, and there are very few which we can pull through.”
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She said mortalities due to electrocutions are not as regularly reported as poaching incidences. Poaching English said sting operations to curb the illegal trade in pangolins are carried out by teams consisting of 10 to 15 people. One team member poses as the buyer and after all confirmations of life and the buying process are concluded, a sting team will arrest the poachers, and the rescued pangolin is taken for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
She said that when assessing the pangolin, they check if they are walking on their two back legs or all four. “If they are walking on two back legs it means that they are fine, but if they walk on all four legs it means that they are compromised and are often dehydrated.” She said they microchip the pangolins so that they can identify the animal which also assists in police cases.
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In 2023, Provet admitted 33 pangolins which equates to a pangolin every 11 days, she said. Emma de Jager of Umoya Khulula Rehabilitation Centre gave an update on the first pangolin the centre raised, called Archie. “Pangolins’ gestation period is four to four and half months, and the offspring’s weight is mostly 200g. “Archie was the first ever pup we raised. His mom was poached when she was heavily pregnant with him. Unfortunately, she did not survive.
When he arrived, he was 255g and now weighs 5.5kg.” She said for a pangolin to be rehabilitated, it needs to be kept in an airconditioned room 24/7 at an optimum temperature. “Each pangolin gets a guardian, their walker. The person will work with the pangolin between four- and eight-hours day or night depending on the season. “When they are big enough, they are released back into nature,” concluded De Jager.
