The third Saturday of February is considered the traditional observance of World Pangolin Day, which attempts to raise awareness of the endangered pangolins, or scaly anteaters found in Africa and Asia, including Laos. Many factors contribute to their dwindling numbers, but especially hunters and the destruction of their habitat. Pangolins are the most stolen animals in the world, and their scales are used for fake medicine among other products.
In Laos, two types of pangolins are considered native to the area: the Sunda pangolin and the Chinese pangolin. Both are on the brink of extinction. The Sunda pangolin can also be found in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the islands nearby. Pangolins love forested and plantation areas, and lives mostly in trees. The Chinese pangolin lives in southern China, Taiwan, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and other parts of Southeast Asia. Pangolins are nocturnal, solitary, and shy. They have poor eyesight, but a great sense of smell, using their tongues to catch ants and termites, also employing powerful claws to dig in the earth to get at the insect nests. Pangolins curl up into a ball when they’re frightened, and they use their sharp scales to protect themselves. Besides humans, tigers and the clouded leopard see them as prey.
