ADOPT A PANGOLIN
Adopting the pangolins we care for is a fantastic way to support the work at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary.
An adoption makes a perfect gift for yourself or a loved one, and also makes a real difference for wildlife. All of your donation goes directly towards our animal welfare and rehabilitation work.
After making an adoption you will be emailed a receipt and personalised certificate within five days and we will share a couple of updates with photos during the year of your adoption period.
If you’ve any questions, just send us an email: comms@lilongwewildlife.org
Although these scaly creatures might look like reptiles, pangolins are actually mammals. In fact, pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammal, accounting for as much as 20% of all illegal wildlife trade. They are in high demand in countries like China and Vietnam, where their meat is considered a delicacy and their scales are used in traditional medicine – despite there being no scientific evidence of them providing any medicinal value.
Our team at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre are experienced at caring for pangolins. In the last year we received a huge increase in the number of animals that were confiscated from wildlife traffickers as a result of a government-led crackdown on organised crime. This included a spike in rescued pangolins.
Though each pangolin is usually only with us for a short time, looking after these endangered mammals in captivity is notoriously difficult as they are highly prone to stress. It’s also incredibly time and labour intensive. Pangolins feed by foraging on ants, for example, so they must be taken on foraging ‘walks’ twice a day (for up to three hours at a time) to find enough food.
Once a pangolin is deemed fit for release, we work carefully with partners like the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to choose an appropriate release site that will be safe and provide enough food sources for the animal.
