60 North Coast runners help protect the world’s most trafficked animal

Sixty intrepid North Coasters braved sweltering weather on Saturday afternoon walking, jogging and running 5km for pangolin conservation.

The Pubbing4Pangolins event saw the entrants start at CJ Cogan Park, before making stops at RE/MAX Dolphin Realtors, Fiamma Grill, Willard Beach, Hops, Concha Café and Mozambik.

There were refreshments – often alcoholic – at each station, ensuring the event lived up to its ‘pubbing’ moniker and making it all the more impressive that everyone completed the distance.

Organised by Ordinarily Active, in partnership with RE/MAX Dolphin Realtors, the event served both as a fundraiser and to raise awareness about the plight of pangolins in South Africa and globally.

But why pangolins?

“At Ordinarily Active, we believe when you live an active life you become more socially aware. Society must protect the vulnerable and in this case, it is the highly endangered pangolins,” said Ordinarily Active managing director, Sarah Swainson.

Pangolins are critically endangered animals in Africa and Asia, with four species on each continent.

They have been systematically hunted for their meat and for their scales which are used in traditional medicine both in Africa and Asia.

In 2016, the New York Times and BBC Earth called pangolins the single most trafficked wild animal on Earth.

The ground pangolin, the only species in South Africa, can be found in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

“Although large predators, starvation, fires and possibly disease pose a threat to wild pangolins, the biggest threat facing them today is humans,” said Swainson.

“They are incredibly interesting animals. They have a tongue as long as their entire body which is used to hunt ants and termites. They are also the only mammals with scales, made of keratin, the same material as your fingernails.”

Funds from the event will be donated to Johannesburg Wildlife Vet, which treats indigenous wildlife free of charge.

They rely on the community for donations and support to remain operational.

Final fundraising figures were not available at the time of print.

To learn more about pangolins in Africa, visit africanpangolin.org.

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