UPDATE: Zambezi’s life hangs by thread
The life of an endangered species pangolin (Afrikaans: ietermagog) rescued yesterday morning is hanging by a thread.
The life of an endangered species pangolin (Afrikaans: ietermagog) rescued yesterday morning is hanging by a thread.
The rare animal was rescued from five poachers in a joint operation outside the Kolonnade Shopping Center, following a tip-off to the police.
Because the male pangolin, weighing in at 8.9kg, was rescued near the former Zambezi Drive (now Sefako Makgatho Drive), it was named Zambezi.
Africa Pangolin Working Group founder TUT professor Ray Jansen said Zambezi was “basically under intensive care”.
“Most of the pangolins we get in this state usually don’t pull through. We have lost so many,” said Jansen.
Jansen said Zambezi was on a drip to get him hydrated. He was also given antibiotics to threat his pneumonia.
Furthermore, Jansen said it would seem Zambezi “hasn’t had any water for two weeks”.
READ MORE: NEWSFLASH: Pangolin rescued from poachers in North
Zambezi will also be fed protein by a tube until he was strong enough to eat by himself again.
“His white blood cells are so low, we couldn’t even pick it up. It could be either due to an infection or that there is something wrong with his bone marrow.”
“The next few days will determine whether he pulls through or not. For now, we are just trying to keep him alive”.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said a member of the public told the police on Monday that he was offered a pangolin for sale.
READ MORE: UPDATE: Case of suspected north lion poachers postponed
“Arrangements were made to meet the sellers at the Kolonnade Retailpark in the Sinoville policing area,” Dlamini said.
A team of police officers from different units arrested four of the five suspects.
“The Pangolin was found in the boot of the suspects’ car. Suspects were detained at Sinoville SAPS.”
He said the fifth suspect escaped on foot and was still at large.
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