So the third Saturday in February is World Pangolin Day, and a day you definitely want to keep on your calendar. We celebrated of course… in the best way, with some pangolin cookies.
Pangolins: Scales of Injustice
I have been reading Richard Peirce’s latest book, Pangolins: Scales of Injustice this past weekend… and what a read. I knew it would be a cracker, and also a good weekend read. It was hopeful and tragic all at the same time… and actually I was engaged in the true story, right from the start.
In the first part of the book we meet a pangolin, named Zambezi, and we go on his journey from his home in Zimbabwe, how he was poached, how he was traded, how he was rescued and ultimatley released.
The tragedy that pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world shines through, and we should be concerned. There are only eight species and they are all extremely endangered. In the second part of the book we are introduced to the Tswalu Game Lodge, where they are working hard to not only research pangolins, but also to restore those that have been rescued to a life in the wilds of the Kalahari.
In Part 3, we learn all about the demand for pangolins in the South East Asian markets, as a delicacy to eat and their scales are prescribed as a cure for cancer, amongst many other ailments. It really is horrific that these heavily protected animals, which are considered to be sacred by so many other cultures, are freely available for sale on the open market. The fact that the author spent time in South East Asia, and found clear evidence that the pangolin trade is managed by large syndicates and not the folk that are openly selling in the market places.
And finally, part 4, where you can read about the future of pangolins. Have a look at the World Pangolin Day website to see what you can do to make a difference.
You can meet the author, journalist, Richard Peirce at his website, here. He has written several books with an environmental theme… he is an active campaigner for Shark Conservation. And I reviewed one of his previous books: The story of an incredible shark, named Nicole, at this link.
Otherwise, I realise that you may want to explore pangolins and learn more about them with your kids and there are some more child friendly books that are also available from Penguin Random House, South Africa.
Coffee Table/Family Favourite Coffee Table Book
If you are looking for a family frindly book about animal extinctions then Ben Rothery’s Hidden Planet is your go to book.
It has a lovely double page spread on the Pangolin.
Also,Ben Rothery’s website is a gold mine of treasures, printables and such like.
And a Picture Book…
This is a review of a child friendly Pangolin book that will delight any nature loving child.
What on Earth is That? by Sarah Savory and illustrated by Fredéric Baele:
This is a fun read for little people who may never have come across a pangolin… Two young children are playing and discover a mystery all rolled up in a ball… a scaled ball.
They set off across the African Plains, asking plenty of more familiar animals, exactly what it is. They gather clues as they go, and eventually discover what their discovery is.
It is a sweet, brightly illustrated book, written in rhyme… a fun story, with a conservation message for young eco-warriors. At the back there are a couple of pangolin information pages, for curious young readers and their parents, as well as a collection of photographs of the author and her children, and pangolins, taken at the Tikki Hywood Trust in Zimbabwe.
Amazon Affiliate links for Books Mentioned in this Post.
These books were given to us for review purposes by Penguin Random House South Africa. This is not a sponsored post and opinions expressed are entirely our own.