The white-bellied pangolin, also known as the tree pangolin, is a unique mammal native to equatorial Africa. Characterized by its distinctive scaly armor, this creature is elusive.
Distinctive Features and Habitat
The white-bellied pangolin is a relatively small species, typically measuring between 60 to 105 cm in total length, with its prehensile tail accounting for about half of its body length. It weighs between 1 and 3 kilograms. Its body is covered in overlapping, dark brown to brownish-yellow scales made of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails. These scales offer protection.
The white-bellied pangolin has a small, cone-shaped head and an elongated snout. It possesses larger eyes and hair on its lower forelimbs, rather than scales. Its short feet are equipped with five long, curved claws, which aid in climbing and foraging. A unique feature is the white or pale whitish-grey skin visible on its belly, which gives the species its name.
This species primarily inhabits moist tropical lowland forests across West and Central Africa, ranging from Guinea-Bissau to Kenya. They are semi-arboreal, often sheltering in tree hollows during the day. Their habitat also includes secondary growth forests, bush, agricultural areas, and dense woodlands with nearby water sources. They can adapt to some modified habitats like abandoned oil palm stands.
Diet and Daily Life
The white-bellied pangolin is an insectivore, specializing almost exclusively in a diet of ants and termites. It uses its powerful claws to break into insect nests or fallen logs. Once a nest is breached, its remarkably long, sticky tongue, which can extend up to 70 cm, is deployed to capture prey.
These mammals are predominantly nocturnal and solitary. They have a well-developed sense of smell for detecting prey. They utilize their prehensile tail as a fifth limb for balance and gripping branches while climbing trees. When threatened, the white-bellied pangolin can quickly ascend a tree or, if on the ground, curl into a tight, armored ball, protecting its vulnerable belly and face.
Conservation Challenges
The white-bellied pangolin faces severe threats, primarily from illegal poaching and habitat loss. It is considered the most trafficked wild mammal globally, with an estimated one million pangolins taken from the wild over a decade. Poaching is driven by demand for its meat, considered a delicacy in some cultures, and its scales, used in traditional Asian medicine despite no scientific evidence supporting their purported curative properties.
The illicit trade disproportionately affects white-bellied pangolins, as they are the most frequently encountered African pangolin species in illegal trade. Scales from over 500,000 African pangolins were trafficked in recent years, with a significant portion likely being white-bellied pangolins.
The species has been reclassified from Vulnerable to Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, reflecting a population decline of up to 40 percent over the past 21 years. This decline is exacerbated by habitat loss due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, human encroachment, and logging, particularly in West Africa where over 90 percent of forest cover has been lost.
Global Protection Efforts
Various initiatives are underway to protect the white-bellied pangolin. All eight pangolin species, including the white-bellied, are listed under CITES Appendix I, which prohibits international commercial trade in wild-caught pangolins and their parts. This international agreement aims to curb the illegal wildlife trade.
Anti-poaching patrols are being established and trained in areas like the Atewa Forest Reserve to enhance surveillance and deter illegal hunting. Rescue and rehabilitation centers, such as those in Cameroon, provide a safe space for confiscated pangolins to recover and receive veterinary care before potential release back into the wild. Public awareness campaigns and community engagement programs aim to foster understanding and support for pangolin conservation. International collaborations, including genetic tracing methods developed by researchers, are helping law enforcement agencies identify poaching hotspots and trace trade routes.