Not too long ago I had shared a post on an enigmatic, rarely
seen little creature, which for me was a first in my 15 years of guiding in
Southern African reserves. If you know my story you will know I am talking
about the ever elusive Ground Pangolin(
Manis
temminkii).
It seems as though I
have broken the 15 year dry spell as I have seen 2 in the last 2 months, both
sightings giving me a sneak peek into these creature mysterious lives and the
opportunity to photograph them in their natural habitat and the steps taken in
the conservation of these animals.
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| Guest photographing a pangolin in the Southern Kalahari. |
My last Pangolin Sighting was an awesome experience as we
got to see the little guy unravel out of his tight ball and scamper around the
Kalahari desert doing what pangolins do best. We, my guest Lauren and I, spent
a great deal of time observing and photographing the Pangolin in it’s
environment while we waited for Tswalu Reserves conservation manager, Dylon, to
take samples for genetic research and catalogue the individual found on the
reserve for population numbers.
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| Conservation manager Dylon and his assistant Sam collecting genetic
samples from the skin and scutes of a pangolin which will be sent to
Pretoria for genetic analysis and recording. |
They are tagged individually, by drilling holes
into specific scales on the tail, thus giving them a unique number to identify
them when found in the future. The drilled piece of scale is collected along
with loose flakes of skin that are abundant between the scales for genetic
research and sent to Pretoria University. This does no harm to the animal as
the scales are made of keratin and have no nerve or blood running through them,
basically they are just modified hair used for protection.
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| Skin is carefully collected from between the scutes and measurements
taken so that when in the future this Pangolin is found again, accurate
records can be taken on growth rates and home range areas. |
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| A hole is drilled into 1,2 or 3 of the Scutes on a specific Row of 3
scutes. Depending on which row and which 3 scutes are drilled will
determine the individual Pangolin’s Identity number. In this case the
Pangolin would be Pangolin No: 1(ROW) AB (scutes). Scales coloured
digitally for presentation purposes. No there are no rainbow coloured
Pangolins running around the Kalahari. |
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| After the Data and genetic collection, this individual seemed to suffer
no ill effects and carried on as he was when we found him. |
Not only was it great to see this little guy going about his
daily business, but was awesome to catch a glimpse of
what goes on in the background to ensure the conservation of these animals was truly
an honour for both myself and Lauren my Guest.
