Pangolins have been among my favourite animals for many years so it’s always surprising to me how many people don’t know about them. Aside from being really adorable and peaceful creatures they are also one of the world’s most poached and illegally traded animals and all of the eight species are critically endangered and facing extinction as a result.

Awareness is growing as are conservation attempts but the demand for their scales, skin and meat is unlikely to go away without a fight.

If you’re unfamiliar with these scaly anteaters, please do read up about them.

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The third Saturday of February has been dubbed World Pangolin Day – read more about these special creatures here and more on African pangolins specifically here