21st Feb: World Pangolin Day

) 

World Pangolin Day falls on the third Saturday of February each year – so in 2026, it’s on 21st February.  

Pangolins urgently need our help.  One of  their biggest problems is that people don't know much about them - but they are the most illegally trafficked mammal on the planet.   So today on World Pangolin Day, please share the word about the pangolin and be their voice.  Stand up for pangolins! 

The Theme of World Pangolin Day 2026

This year’s international theme, “Guardians in Action”, recognises conservation professionals and community members involved in rescue operations, rehabilitation programmes, habitat monitoring and public awareness campaigns.

#WorldPangolinDay  =  the chance to tell people about pangolins

#pangolinguardians #pangolinconservation

Please shout out for pangolins – tweet, share on Facebook, Instagram, X, everywhere you can think of.  Spread the word about pangolins and the work being done to help with their conservation.  Be their PR agent! 

On their Facebook page in 2026, the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group is introducing us all to the eight species of pangolins, through an "Eight Days of pangolins" celebration.  There's been a post about a specific species every day, to raise awareness of the different types of pangolin and giving us the chance to find out something about them.  This means you can find out about:

  • White-bellied pangolin (most abundant of the African pangolins, mostly in west and central Africa, and a bit in the south and east
  • Black-bellied pangolin om west and central Africa
  • Temminck's pangolin in the southern to eastern Africa - these can walk on two hind legs, using their front limbs and tails to balance
  • The African Giant pangolin - the largest, as its name suggests, weighing up to 35kg!  These are mostly in central and western Africa and they don't like change.
  • Chinese pangolins live in China and some south eastern Asian countries.  They spend the cold months of the year in burrows for warmth - and they choose to be near termite nests, for a good food supply
  • Philippine pangolins are found on 4 islands in the Philippines
  • the Indian pangolin can be found in India, of course, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. 
  • the Asian Sunda pangolin, most widely distributed in south east Asia

Please share their news and updates during #WorldPangolinDay!  



World Pangolin Day

Ahead of World Pangolin Day on 21 February, national authorities are highlighting strengthened conservation measures, legal protections and community-based initiatives aimed at safeguarding the species’ future.  You'll find pangolin news here.

Take a look at A Journey through Pangolin rehabilitation with Suwilanji Sichone who has worked with animals for 29 years.  (29th January 2025)

African Wildlife Foundation has a three pronged approach to protect the pangolin:

  1. It promotes public awareness working with partner organisations to create public awareness campaigns, such as "When the Buying Stops the Killing can too" to show consumers of the damage wildlife products do to wildlife populations and that there are no medicinal properties in pangolin scales
  2. It deploys detection dogs with its Canines for Conservation programme – AWF works with wildlife authorities to train and deploy sniffer dog teams to seaports, airports and other wildlife trafficking dogs. 
  3. It engages communities and get locals involved, giving them the tools and incentives they need for sustainable agriculture that allow them to move away from hunting threatened wildlife for food 

Pangolins need us to explain that wildlife crime doesn’t pay

Education for Nature – Vietnam  (ENV) is working to educate people that wildlife crime doesn’t pay;   it has a  You Tube video showing a wildlife traffickers in prison, with prison sentences of up to 15 years for wildlife trafficking.   They have a number of videos which you can share to stop pangolin consumption and trade. The ENV is urging the public to join the fight against wildlife crime.  And they have a safer with science video, showing that science is safer than relying on traditional medicines.  

Pangolin Projects and Conservation Charities need us to help them so that they can help the pangolins

There’s plenty of work being done to help pangolins – with lots of charities working their heart out to solve the problem.  Visit our list of pangolin charities on Animals Charities and you’ll find more links.