Pangolin Profile: Africa's Scaled, Secretive Mammal

These nocturnal insect-eaters curl into an armoured ball when threatened. Several species live in Africa, with different ranges, from ground-living animals to tree climbers.

This profile explains how pangolins live, why they are in trouble and what travellers can do to help.

This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Identification

A pangolin has overlapping scales made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails, covering its back, sides and tail. The head is small and pointed, the tongue long, and the eyes small. The forelimbs have strong claws for digging and the tail is muscular. African species include the giant ground pangolin, the Temminck's or ground pangolin, the white-bellied pangolin and the black-bellied pangolin, with the latter two being tree-dwelling forest species. Ground species walk partly on their hind legs, with their front claws curled.

Habitat

Ground-living pangolins occupy savanna, woodland and scrub, sheltering in burrows dug by other animals, while forest pangolins live in rainforest canopies and shelter in tree hollows. The giant ground pangolin, the largest, lives in rainforest and swamp margins of central and western Africa and reaches western Uganda. Temminck's pangolin lives in the savannas of East and southern Africa. Because they are rarely seen, exact distributions within countries remain imperfectly known.

Diet and Behaviour

Pangolins have no teeth. They use a very long, sticky tongue to collect ants and termites, and thick eyelids and closable nostrils protect them against bites. A pangolin may feed on a single colony for much of a night. Most are solitary and nocturnal, and they sleep through the day. Mothers carry a single baby on the tail or back, and when danger threatens, they curl tightly around the youngster. When disturbed they may also emit a foul-smelling secretion, a little like a skunk.

Threats and Trafficking

Pangolins are widely described as the most trafficked mammals on Earth. Their scales are used in traditional medicine in parts of Asia, and their meat is eaten as a luxury food, so illegal trade has devastated Asian species and increasingly targets African ones. They are also killed in snares, electric fences and fires. Several species are listed as vulnerable or critically endangered. Law enforcement, awareness and community conservation are vital, and responsible visitors should never buy scale products. See responsible and conservation travel.

Where Pangolins May Be Seen

Very few visitors see wild pangolins. They occur in forests and savannas across East Africa, including western Uganda's forest belt, and private conservancies in Kenya and Tanzania occasionally report sightings on night drives. National parks such as Semuliki and Kibale hold forest habitat, but even local guides rarely meet one. A better way to appreciate pangolins is through conservation talks and rescued-animal projects, such as the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, which can offer education about wildlife.

What to Do If You See One

Stay still, keep your distance, avoid flash photography and never touch it. Report sightings to your guide or the park authorities, since even a record helps researchers. See night drives and walking safaris for opportunities to look for nocturnal species.

Related Species

Compare the pangolin with the aardvark, another insect specialist, and with the honey badger. For wider context read the East Africa wildlife guide.

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Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team