Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital celebrates one year of pangolin ward

February 19 marked World Pangolin Day, and one year since the launch of Africa’s first dedicated pangolin veterinary ward in partnership with Investec and the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.

Of the 17 pangolins that have been in the ward’s care in the last year, eight have been fully released back into a safe and appropriate habitat where they are currently being monitored. Six are still in their rehabilitation process, and one is in a soft release process.

Co-founder and head veterinarian at the hospital Dr Karen Lourens attributed the success of the of pangolin treatment ward to its temperature-controlled and quiet environment. This allows the pangolins to recover without becoming any more stressed.

“It is equipped so that vets can do their work without moving the pangolin, thereby reducing stress and enhancing safety.

“It is in a safe, secure space with high-security measures in place and the rehabilitation numbers over the last year certainly speak to the quality and the necessity of the facility.”

Two additional pangolins were returned to their territory immediately following veterinary checks.

Lourens has recently been invited to become a member of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) specialist group on pangolins, which enables her to globally share her knowledge on the treatment of injured and rescued pangolins.

The group is responsible for the worldwide conservation of pangolins, and she will be joining her fellow veterinary colleague, Nicci Wright.

Various reports highlight the threat pangolins are under as they are the most highly poached mammal in the world for their meat, skin and scales.

Head of conservation at Investec Geraldine Fleming said there is an increase in wildlife crimes according to the United Nations World Wildlife Crime report.

“[The hospital] builds cases that have resulted in successful prosecutions with the maximum 10-year sentences being given.

“Investec, together with the Financial Intelligence Centre and the Hawks, working through the South African Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Force, hope to bring the related financial investigations into each prosecution.”

She added with the veterinary hospital working with the African Pangolin Working Group, there is hope to construct stronger cases against wildlife criminals to see longer prison sentences and greater disruption of criminal networks.

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