Pangolin Hotline To Combat Trafficking

Pangolin.Africa has launched the Pangolert number, 27 072 726 4654, to facilitate real-time reporting of pangolin sightings and trafficking incidents. The service operates 24/7, linking callers to a vetted network of veterinarians, non-governmental organisations and law enforcement agencies across Central and Southern Africa. The hotline is also on WhatsApp.

Pangolins remain the worlds most trafficked mammal with an estimated 195000 individuals trafficked in 2019 alone. Limited funding for population assessments means the full scale of the crisis remains unclear.

Poaching often leaves no trace behind. By building a reliable sighting database, we can proactively protect pangolins rather than just reacting to crises, says Toby Jermyn , Founder of Pangolin.Africa.

The Pangolert initiative also contributes to conservation research by collecting sighting data, regardless of when or where a pangolin was last seen. These reports help conservationists monitor population trends and inform protection strategies.

Pangolins play a crucial ecological role by consuming up to 70million ants and termites annually, preventing vegetation loss and improving soil quality. However, with slow reproduction rates as females birth a single pup every 12-18 months, every pangolin saved is vital to species survival.