The Scales That Should Never Be in Your Sights
On a well-managed piece of land, not all trophies have to hang on a wall. Some are seen once, remembered forever, and spoken about around campfires for years. The Pangolin is one of those. A rare, scale-armoured insectivore that rolls into a perfect ball at the first hint of danger—and one of Africa’s most illegally trafficked mammals.
But on private reserves and game farms across South Africa, Temminck’s Ground Pangolin still survives—and sometimes, if you’re incredibly lucky, is spotted.
🛡️ Not a Species for the Crosshairs—but One for the Record Books
Pangolins are completely protected under South African law, and for good reason:
- They play a vital role in pest control—eating thousands of ants and termites per night
- Their presence is a sign of ecosystem health
- They are slow breeders, extremely vulnerable to habitat disruption, and can’t recover from even mild pressure
For ethical hunters, landowners, and trackers, knowing a Pangolin track or sighting is part of the broader bushcraft skillset. It shows respect for more than just your quarry—it shows understanding of the land itself.
🔍 How to Know You’ve Found One (And What to Do)
Pangolins are:
- Mostly nocturnal
- Solitary
- Often found in rocky savanna or bushveld with good termite populations
- Tracked by their distinctive tail drag marks and claw footprints
If you ever find one on your land or while tracking:
- Do not touch or move it
- Report the sighting to your local wildlife authority or conservation body
- Keep the location discreet—poaching networks pay attention to bragging rights
The Conservation-Hunting Connection
As a landowner or hunter, protecting species like Pangolin is part of the sustainable use model. We manage game populations, control predators, and selectively harvest—but we also protect the rare, the non-huntable, and the ecologically essential.
That balance is what separates true custodians of the land from mere users of it.
