Pangolin

On being a Pangolin

If you’d rather watch a video than read this information, we’ve got you covered.  Click here to go to YouTube.

Hi!  I’m Fidget (she/her), a white-bellied pangolin. While many people have never heard of us, others may only be aware that we are the most trafficked species of wild mammal in the world. Many of us are killed every year as a food source for local people and for the scales which cover our bodies, even though they are made of the same keratin as your fingernails.

But we’re so much more than our unfortunate record of being the most trafficked mammal and our coveted scales! We tend to be on the nervous side — hence my name.  (Yes, Mom. I get it.)  We are extremely shy and easily stressed when something changes in our environment.  And while we are known for our sweet, non-aggressive dispositions, we are also highly elusive to the point that when one of you sights one of us, it is a rare and noteworthy experience. Since chances are you may never meet one of us in pangolin — er, in person — why not settle in for a bit? I’d be delighted to give you a peek into what life is like from my side of the scales. 

Growing Up Pangolin

In the beginning, it was me and Mom. We curled up together in our tree hollow for most of my first month, although Mom would leave for short periods to grab herself a bite to eat. After that, I was strong enough to hitch a ride on Mom’s tail so I could join her on her travels. As you might imagine, I clung tightly to Mom at first while I figured out this big, unfamiliar world.  But as the days passed and everything felt a little less overwhelming, I began to relax my hold.  Before long, I found myself nibbling on termites right alongside her.  Turns out?  Delish!  

When I was four months old, Mom cut off the milk bar. Despite this transgression, I continued to hang out with her for another month or so while I learned how to be an adult pangolin. Then, at the ripe old age of five months, I was on my own, living my best solo life. I still had some growing to do, but within the year, I had blossomed from a three-ounce (100 gram) pangopup to a four-pound (two-kilogram) adult.  I measured seventeen inches (43 centimeters) long plus my rather stately 24-inch (62 centimeters) tail. 

Once I left Mom, I wandered far and wide before settling into a home range of about 7.5 acres (3 hectares). These days, I keep careful track of my territory by marking it with scent — using both urine and a special secretion from my anal glands. I leave my signature along tree branches by scooting my rear for a few steps, and I mark the bases and trunks of trees, so everyone knows this space is taken.

Nighttime is the Right Time

I am NOT an early riser.  I start to rouse as the sun sets.  I start my day with a big stretch, including unfolding and warming up my impressive 27-inch (70-centimeter) tongue when I do. (When I’m not using it, my tongue rests deep within my chest rather than in my mouth.). Over the course of the night, I explore only a small portion of my home range, traveling some 437 yards (400 meters).  

My first order of business is to find some dinner using my keen sense of smell and sensitivity to vibrations. Sometimes the ants and termites I track down are in trees while other times they are on the ground. I usually leave their structures relatively intact so I can keep coming back to the same places for food. 

Either way, before I dig in, I constrict my ears and nostrils to keep the insects out. Then I use my claws to dig into their nest and insert my sticky tongue to pull them out en masse. I do this about 90 times a night, and in the span of three to four hours, I will consume six ounces (175 grams) of bugs. I have no teeth but have a special lining in my stomach to help me to digest my meal. I also eat small stones and sand to help with the process. By the way, our pest control services are highly beneficial.  Not only do we keep ant and termite populations in check, but our digging aerates the soil and leaves it more fertile.  You’re welcome!

I don’t need to drink water every day, since I get a lot of liquid from my diet.  But sometimes, I do need to stop at the local river for a quick libation.  When it’s a warm evening, I may add swimming to the agenda.  It’s a great way to cool off and get rid of pesky parasites.  And I do a mean doggie paddle!

Life in the Treetops . . . And On the Ground

Much of the time, I am up in the trees. I feel so safe there that I sleep in a hollow during the day. I’m also quite comfortable on the ground. I shuffle on the outer edges of my four feet and periodically raise myself up to sniff the air to see what I can suss out. If I sense any danger, I curl myself into an impenetrable ball until the danger passes. Even hungry leopards can’t break through my defense mechanism. Take that, scary beast!  Haha!

My life carried on like this for another year, but things changed around the time I turned two years old. I’m usually by myself but one day a fine gentleman pangolin named Pinecone sought me out. Initially, we postured and stood chest to chest as we would in an aggressive encounter. But in the end, we hung out in the trees for the next few days and during that time, he gave me some amorous side hugs while our tails entwined.  

Five months later, I gave birth to a single pangopup, my little “nervous” Nell.  Like my Mom before me, I curled myself around my little one, and we spent our days together in a hollow or nest.  While I still spend a considerable amount of time with Nell, I manage to sneak out for food each day.  I suppose I should mention that during one of those excursions, I met up with a new gentleman caller named Louis and got some additional amorous side hugs.

So there you have it, the white-bellied pangolin life in a nutshell.  My day starts after sunset, and I spend my nights hunting down ants and termites for dinner.  I give birth once a year after spending a very brief time with a gentleman pangolin. I then protect and guide my new little one for the next few months until they are also ready to live their best pangolin life.