The Pangolin
I'm watching a Nature episode about them, and it's so interesting - and sad because they are being killed into extinction. An amazing animal and so cute. Been around for 40 million years and man is decimating species after species in the blink of an eye via illegal poaching. Mostly Asia "delicacies" babies and even pre-borns, and for bullshit medicinal trade. Their scales, which are basically like finger nails. You gotta watch them being cared for by an organization called R.E.S.T. The Rare & Endangered Species Trust
5
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WOW!! I guess there are some benefits to having a TV. I've not heard of these little guys!! Cute little buggers. Sort of like an armadillo but no relation. They really aren't that little but the babies are adorable.
Man continues to prove what a fucking ass scourge he can be to the world at large.
silverotter11
Level 9
May 24, 2018
1
So sad that so many animals face extinction because of incorrect and irrational beliefs. i wish we could educated people more quickly. Here in Spain people used to be keen to eat the meat from fighting bulls, killed in the arena because they thought it would make them more virile. Now they (mainly) eat it because it tastes good, so beliefs can change.
CeliaVL
Level 7
May 24, 2018
1
I've watched this and so many other creatures die because of habitat loss, greed, overpopulation and fucking stupid beliefs.
LeighShelton
Level 8
May 24, 2018
3
The zoo where I volunteer was given a tree pangolin after the Feds confiscated it at LAX. It was just a baby and you need to know there are no protocols to care for such an animal. NOBODY HAS EVER HAND-RAISED ONE! (Sounds odd...but, it's true.) Our nursery keepers sent out an internet alarm and recieved dozens of suggestions from people in Africa who'd tried to do it.
Our little guy lived several months and then suddenly died. I can't tell you how devastating it was for our keeper staff--they'd overcome their reluctance to fall in love with him because it looked as if they might succeed in raising him to adulthood.
(I wish I had a dollar for every time some child has announced that "I want to be a ZOOKEEPER when I grow up." Nobody ever knows how often their hearts are broken.)
LucyLoohoo
Level 9
May 24, 2018
3
@SACatWalker The issue isn't ''rehabbing''....it's hand-raising an unweaned infant. It always SEEMS simple..stuff a nipple in its mouth and pour in milk, right? WRONG! If you don't get the exactly correct formula...animals will not thrive. Wallaby babies will develop vision problems, for example. Since nobody had access to pangolin milk (!) our nursery staff used goat milk and it worked--for awhile. Everyone fell in love with the baby and he was charming as it's possible to be. Keepers still get misty-eyed, remembering.....
JeffMesser
Level 8
May 23, 2018
1
@SACatWalker exactly. it's like finding a mean streak in a baby sloth.
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