Slowly, the tiny ball in the wooden crate began to unwind. Its scales moved and a pointy nose followed by two black button eyes emerged. Natalie was entranced. The baby pangolin unwrapped its tail, holding out its front legs and gazed at her, asking to be picked up. It was love at first sight.
Natalie is a veterinary nurse, used to caring for all sorts of African animals – but this young pangolin is a first for her.
Ramphy – named after the good Samaritan who had seen it fall off the back of a pick-up and bounce onto the tarmac – was brought into the Rhino Revolution at the end of October. It is thought that sadly his mother was also on the vehicle, having been taken by poachers to be sold – alive or frozen – as food and fake medicine in Asia, the Conservation Action Trust reports.
Natalie recalled “When Ramphy first arrived, he used to shake every time I opened his box”.
It was heart-breaking to realise that he was trembling from fear, missing his mother and terrified what this human was going to do to him. He has now calmed down and it touches my heart to see him with his little front arms outstretched, wanting to be picked up. He just wants to curl round my neck”.
Young pangolins stay with their mother until they are about a year old, riding on their mum’s back, and so Ramphy wants close contact for reassurance. He is one of eight pangolins that have been brought into the Rhino Revolution Orphanage, since September.
