![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SPYAETL3HR7E4LBN536IQULHM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fabe216c8c562c39a7f41625555223d908a6e7f5de8e38914b9d8faa554e97d0&width=400&height=225)
A Temminck’s pangolin foraging in Zimbabwe.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KA5H6KLBY52TAQCNAOFYBUBOYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c43adef3b40877973d7b1c8b2d9317df794463779c2da209fa57561120fbd378&width=400&height=225)
A man holds a pangolin at a wild animal rescue centre. REUTERS / Kham
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LMGXVXLHGWY332WH3T22MKVTSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=75157f496f23896b1ffb2fac5878ec91bf830be5ff4aa44788f26ce5d176829b&width=400&height=225)
Giant pangolins pictured by camera traps in Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon. The quality of the images is not brilliant, but giant pangolins are nocturnal and are very rarely photographed. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZGMTKLEOOMHTH6DC4EBERRBYPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b9285a55fbc3baa4d7ff1196558086a478d053b98e14a30fc90b0233659ac40&width=400&height=225)
A giant pangolin is pictured at night in Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U7ER52U2KFV6E52GR4PHK4FUEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a39bbd90c4dc51fb6ae5ac313f261710b2ea2442ced5e1352e108f4c272288b&width=400&height=225)
A giant pangolin moves past a camera trap in Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X6ECZJJF4KCNIWRU5Q3TY5ARB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=64b58448fd10e44f50271e9b1dd13937636c377ef3f1f629ff6111c41cc3e4c3&width=400&height=225)
Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon, where conservation work has been supported by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KEZYWRFOK5LE35KQWWOWI6NFTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a38fe91e340920ab3c184e05217287c77edd269b106e8b38a4a03377c8c6efe5&width=400&height=225)
Valorian Tegebong, a master's student on internship with the Agriculture and Bio-conservation Organisation for Youth Empowerment and Rural Development, holding a dead pangolin a hunter gave to the organisation. Courtesy, Aboyerd
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UMIZ3FAPTL3SCBREPES7APQFJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=baada1ebd67f6ecec4b5b68a300dee84fed0f7b6f935353db29cfa8847f8a858&width=400&height=225)
Pangolin scales, such as these held by Paddy Abdul Halim from the customs department in Kuala Lumpur, are used in traditional Chinese and African medicine despite their being no evidence of their efficacy. Fazry Ismail / EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SPYAETL3HR7E4LBN536IQULHM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fabe216c8c562c39a7f41625555223d908a6e7f5de8e38914b9d8faa554e97d0&width=400&height=225)
A Temminck’s pangolin foraging in Zimbabwe.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KA5H6KLBY52TAQCNAOFYBUBOYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c43adef3b40877973d7b1c8b2d9317df794463779c2da209fa57561120fbd378&width=400&height=225)
A man holds a pangolin at a wild animal rescue centre. REUTERS / Kham
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LMGXVXLHGWY332WH3T22MKVTSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=75157f496f23896b1ffb2fac5878ec91bf830be5ff4aa44788f26ce5d176829b&width=400&height=225)
Giant pangolins pictured by camera traps in Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon. The quality of the images is not brilliant, but giant pangolins are nocturnal and are very rarely photographed. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZGMTKLEOOMHTH6DC4EBERRBYPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b9285a55fbc3baa4d7ff1196558086a478d053b98e14a30fc90b0233659ac40&width=400&height=225)
A giant pangolin is pictured at night in Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U7ER52U2KFV6E52GR4PHK4FUEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a39bbd90c4dc51fb6ae5ac313f261710b2ea2442ced5e1352e108f4c272288b&width=400&height=225)
A giant pangolin moves past a camera trap in Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X6ECZJJF4KCNIWRU5Q3TY5ARB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=64b58448fd10e44f50271e9b1dd13937636c377ef3f1f629ff6111c41cc3e4c3&width=400&height=225)
Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon, where conservation work has been supported by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Courtesy, Alain Delon Mouafo Takoune
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KEZYWRFOK5LE35KQWWOWI6NFTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a38fe91e340920ab3c184e05217287c77edd269b106e8b38a4a03377c8c6efe5&width=400&height=225)
Valorian Tegebong, a master's student on internship with the Agriculture and Bio-conservation Organisation for Youth Empowerment and Rural Development, holding a dead pangolin a hunter gave to the organisation. Courtesy, Aboyerd
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UMIZ3FAPTL3SCBREPES7APQFJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=baada1ebd67f6ecec4b5b68a300dee84fed0f7b6f935353db29cfa8847f8a858&width=400&height=225)
Pangolin scales, such as these held by Paddy Abdul Halim from the customs department in Kuala Lumpur, are used in traditional Chinese and African medicine despite their being no evidence of their efficacy. Fazry Ismail / EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SPYAETL3HR7E4LBN536IQULHM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fabe216c8c562c39a7f41625555223d908a6e7f5de8e38914b9d8faa554e97d0&width=400&height=225)
A Temminck’s pangolin foraging in Zimbabwe.
How Abu Dhabi is helping to conserve Africa’s giant pangolin
Thousands of the gentle animals are trafficked every year – but the fight against poachers is expanding
![Daniel Bardsley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4dcffed7-67d1-4c6f-b468-84a82d1ddd22.png?smart=true&auth=e4d7a6e3c76d7ec922e25339bc18538c62bc925936c2316006dc89b8a7becdc6&width=70&height=70)
Daniel Bardsley
25 May, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic