A tip-off sets law enforcement in motion; when they intercept the traffickers, they find a pangolin, curled tight, trembling with fear, stuffed into a battered sack, rolled in an old, disused plastic bucket.
To the untrained eye, it may appear as nothing more than a pile of dried leaves, but to the wildlife intelligence officers, it is a life teetering on the edge. This is how most rescues begin: with trauma.
The most trafficked animal on Earth
Across Africa, pangolins face a relentless threat. Their scales are composed of keratin, the same biological material as human fingernails and hair made of Keratin which are in high demand in Asia. Their meat is also considered a delicacy and a source of protein in some cultures, fuelling an illegal trade that spans continents. This demand has led to their unfortunate status as the most trafficked animal on Earth, a tragic title that has pushed all eight species into CITES Appendix I, prohibiting international commercial trade.
Zambia finds itself at the heart of this crisis, serving both as a source and transit country for trafficked pangolins. However, it’s not just an international issue; Wildlife Crime Prevention’s (WCP) Zambia research reveals worrying signs of local demand, emphasising the urgent need for awareness and protection.
At WCP Zambia, pangolin conservation means going beyond rescue. We operate Zambia’s only dedicated pangolin rehabilitation centre, providing round-the-clock care to trafficked and injured and distressed pangolins.
A ground pangolin in the hands of a Pangolin keeper.
(Credit: Mana Meadows)
To rehabilitate a pangolin
When pangolins are seized from traffickers, the animals are often dehydrated, malnourished, and terrified. Some bear wounds from rough handling. Others are juveniles, separated from their mothers and desperately vulnerable. As Dr Chadzantso Phiri, Acting Senior Veterinarian at DNPW, shared in a recent WCP podcast, “Without stabilisation and rehabilitation, most pangolins wouldn’t survive more than a few days.”
Once in safe hands, the pangolin’s journey shifts from crisis to healing. The first steps are critical: rehydration, treatment of wounds, parasite control, and careful monitoring of stress. Pangolins are extraordinarily sensitive animals. Even well-intentioned human interaction can trigger a lowered immunity, flaring up into disease, ultimately death. That is why the veterinary and keeper teams at the Pangolin Rehabilitation Centre have developed quiet, low-disturbance care routines designed to minimise stress.
Unlike other species that may tolerate handling, pangolins require near-silent, scent-free environments. The keepers strictly minimise human noise and scent because pangolins are naturally quiet, solitary animals that become distressed by loud or unfamiliar sounds. Feeding routines are also carefully aligned with their nocturnal habits. Instead of force-feeding, the team allows pangolins to eat voluntarily between 03:00 and 06:00 hours, mimicking their natural feeding patterns. During these feeding sessions, keepers maintain a distance of at least two metres to avoid crowding or startling the animal.
Pangolin Programme Manager and a Pangolin keeper tending to a Pangolin.
(Credit: Mana Meadows)
For orphaned pangolins, the process is even more delicate. They may require milk substitutes, round-the-clock feeding, and constant supervision. Every case is unique, and each animal demands a care plan built on patience, vigilance, and deep compassion.
Rehabilitation then becomes a daily rhythm of endurance and recovery. Long before sunrise, the keepers carry pangolins out into the bush for foraging walks, where the animals probe termite mounds with their approximately 40cm long tongues. Success is measured not only by how much they eat, but also by subtle signs such as increased energy, a steadier pace, and gradual weight gain. Before the morning feeding, all pangolins are weighed. On return from the feeding trail, individual weighing is done and recorded. This helps monitor rehabilitation progress as weight gains and losses are an important indicator of a pangolin’s health. This cycle, repeated every day, is designed to mimic their natural behaviour while gradually restoring their strength and stamina.
Return to the wild
Weeks or months may pass before a pangolin is ready to return to the wild, depending on the condition it was rescued in. The decision is never rushed; health status, body weight, feeding stamina, and behavioural observations are carefully reviewed. When the time comes, the pangolin is fitted with a GPS or VHF tag to allow monitoring of its progress after release. The release is usually conducted at night, when pangolins are naturally active. The crate door is opened gently, and under the cover of darkness, the pangolin takes its first steps back into freedom. For the keepers who have cared for it, this is the most rewarding moment: watching an animal once broken by trafficking shuffle away into the bush, strong enough to reclaim its place in the wild.
But release is not the end. Through post-release monitoring, WCP, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, and partners such as the Conservation Lower Zambezi track survival and behaviour. In a recent two-year study, 14 rehabilitated pangolins were monitored, and the results were striking. 82% survived the first month, 64% reached three months, and half were still alive after a year. For a species once considered impossible to keep in care, these figures were groundbreaking. They prove that with science-based rehabilitation and the use of technology, pangolins stand a real chance of survival after trafficking.
A rescued ground pangolin released back into its natural habitat.
(Credit: WCP Zambia)
More than just data
These numbers, however, are more than statistics. Each survivor represents a pangolin that would otherwise have been lost forever. Each data point contributes to a growing body of knowledge that is shaping pangolin conservation across Africa. Every pangolin we release is monitored using GPS technology, allowing us to track their movements, monitor survival rates, and collect crucial ecological data that informs conservation strategies across the continent.
The ecological importance of these animals cannot be overstated. A single pangolin can consume tens of millions of ants and termites in a year, acting as a natural pest controller that protects crops and supports forest regeneration. Their disappearance would trigger far-reaching consequences, as these creatures are absolutely vital to their ecosystems. They are crucial for maintaining soil stability, ensuring food security, and preserving biodiversity. By rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing pangolins, Zambia is not only saving individuals but it is preserving balance in nature.
A tree pangolin
(Credit: Theresa Konings Roomer)
For those of us on the frontlines, pangolin conservation is more than a job; it’s a mission. Every time we release a pangolin back into the wild, it feels like a small but powerful act of defiance against extinction. It’s a moment of reclaimed hope.
The pangolin is quiet, misunderstood, and slipping away. But together, with science-backed conservation, continued advocacy, and global and local support, we can change its story.
To support our work on pangolin conservation, consider donating here to WCP Zambia.
