Pangolins

BY OLIVER ANICKA

Pangolins are an endangered species that are related to the anteater. Thousands of pangolins are killed every year for their meat as well as their scales, which are used for medicine.

There are eight species of pangolins. Four are found in Asia: the Chinese pangolin, the Sunda pangolin, the Indian pangolin, and the Philippine pangolins. There are four African species: the Ground pangolin, the Giant pangolin, the White-bellied pangolin, and the Black-bellied pangolin.       

Babies
The only time that pangolins spend time together is when they mate and make sure their babies are okay. Some pangolin dads will stay with the babies in their den until one of the offspring runs away from the den. Babies are born with soft scales but the scales harden over time making them stronger. Babies are fed with any food their mother can find.          

Illegal Trade
Pangolin scales are made of keratin, which is the same thing that makes up our fingernails and hair. Pangolin scales have no proven medicinal value, but they are still used in Chinese medicine to help treat arthritis, although there is not any proof that it works. The scales are typically dried and ground up into powder, which may be turned into pills.            

SOURCES :
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirus-pangolins-may-have-spread-the-disease-to-humans
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/pangolins