In celebration of World Pangolin Day 2017 – a pencil pangolin.

These enigmatic creatures are the only scaled mammal. There are 8 species across tropical Asia and sub-saharan Africa. Their sticky tongue, used for collecting insects, can equal the entire length of their body. When threatened they roll into a ball – great defence against big cats, but sadly this leaves them easy prey for poachers who can simply pick them up.

Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world. Their scales are used in traditional medicine and their meat is seen as a status symbol. As a result, pangolins are listed as threatened or endangered across their range.

World Pangolin Day seeks to raise awareness of the plight of these unusual animals.