Otjozondjupa:A juvenile female pangolin is currently receiving specialized rehabilitation at Waterberg following a wildlife crime operation over the weekend in the Otjozondjupa Region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the rescue was part of a joint operation conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) and the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) to combat illegal wildlife trafficking. The young pangolin, weighing 3.3 kilograms, was found separated from her mother, a critical age when she would typically still rely on maternal care.

Kelsey Prediger, executive director of the Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation (PCRF), stated that veterinary assessments showed the animal was dehydrated but otherwise in good health. The pangolin will need an extended period of specialized care to recover and develop the skills necessary to forage independently before being returned to the wild.

This juvenile pangolin is the 26th to undergo rehabilitation and the 50th to be rescued in partnership with MEFT since 2023. The post-release survival rate for rehabilitated pangolins has significantly improved, increasing from 40% to over 90%. Prediger highlighted the strategy of protecting pangolins through local guardians, with 15 currently in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy and plans to expand to the Kavango and Zambezi regions by 2027.

Pangolins are among the most trafficked mammals globally, driven by high demand for their scales and meat. In Namibia, joint task forces have stepped up anti-poaching operations to dismantle local syndicates. Prediger and her team expressed gratitude to law enforcement and MEFT for their swift action, noting the importance of each rescue in preserving vulnerable pangolin populations. Updates on the pangolin's rehabilitation and release will be provided as her recovery progresses.

PCRF is a nonprofit organization focused on combating illegal wildlife trafficking and achieving conservation outcomes for African pangolins.