In Malawi, our vets were called upon to help one of the world's most trafficked animals, a pangolin.
Rangers from the Malawi Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and African Parks had rescued a ground pangolin from a poacher. She was still alive, but she was weak, dehydrated, and malnourished, with a head tilt, and often falling over to one side. The little pangolin needed immediate veterinary attention.
At the BSPCA clinic in Blantyre, our vets provided the pangolin with critical first aid.
Whilst she was under anesthesia, she received a full physical exam, intravenous fluids, as well as oral dextrose (to treat low blood sugar), vitamins, and minerals via a stomach tube.
She also received medications to help prevent stress-induced pneumonia.
It worked. The pangolin recovered amazingly well and within a few days, she was ready to return home.
Tragically, pangolins are the world’s most trafficked animal, targeted for their scales which are used in traditional medicine. So, it was important to release the pangolin in a protected area within her home territory, where it was both familiar and safe. The rangers found the perfect location. They opened the transport cage and watched her make a quick trip to a nearby watering hole, before zooming off into the thicket.
Thanks to the efforts of everyone who came together, and by our combining expertise, we were able to save this pangolin from the illegal wildlife trade and give her a second chance at life in the wild.
Donate today, and you can help us continue this life-saving work worldwide. To learn more about conservation through vet care, click here.