Poaching unit pup comes to town
In KwaZulu-Natal in particular, these little mammals have been considered locally extinct for up to four decades.
Dutch Shepherd pup Raven, the African Pangolin Working Group’s newest member in training of the K9 pangolin counter-poaching unit, who recently visited the mid-South Coast with her trainer Greg Thompson for a well-deserved break, ensured that they create a bit of pangolin awareness before heading back home for more training in the North West.
When they weren’t relaxing with family in the area, the duo spent a lot of time at the local Umdoni beaches where Raven did obedience and socialising training with other dogs as she is involved in sting operations and a lot of these are conducted at busy shopping centres in Johannesburg.
“It’s vital that she’s socialised and gets used to lots of activity and movement around her because this is the type of environment her job puts her in,” explained Thompson.
Raven, who began her training at six months old, has already been on two sting operations to socialize herself, even though she’s still in training.
Her trainer described her as a fast learner who has already done remarkably well for her age and already imprinted on all four species of pangolin and gun powder.
In the country, one would find the Temminck’s ground pangolin, black-bellied pangolin, white-bellied pangolin and giant ground pangolin.
In KwaZulu-Natal in particular, these little mammals have been considered locally extinct for up to four decades.
Thompson mentioned that the African Pangolin Working Group is currently busy with a big project to reintroduce pangolins in the province in the near future.
For those unaware of what these animals actually are, they are referred to by many as a type of scaly anteater which are most active at night.
He explained that these animals are poached so often because of their in-demand scales.
“Pangolin scales are made of keratin like rhino horns are and we know of 60 commercially made traditional Chinese medicines in China which contain these scales,” said Thompson.
“There is also a high delicacy side where I’ve heard one bowl of pangolin soup in Vietnam sells for two and a half thousand dollars.”
“This is the only scaled mammal in the world and there is still no medical proof that there is any medicinal value from the scales .”
He went on to add that because of these scales, about one million pangolins were trafficked, inclusive of other species found around the world, back in 2019.
The K9 pangolin counter-poaching unit would sometimes receive tip-offs of people keeping these animals at home and are required to intercept.
Raven would be required to search these homes and detect if there are any pangolins present and she’s also been trained on vehicle searches.
Raven, Thompson and others at the poaching unit encourage all South Africans to report pangolin sightings to their unit and welcome any and all tip-offs regarding pangolin trafficking.
“Many pangolins have been saved because of the public reaching out from all around the country and we ask them and others to continue working with us in order to save these animals.”
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