First pangolin ward in Africa established
GLENFERNESS – Investec will fund the pangolin ward at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.
In commemoration of World Pangolin Day on 20 February, Investec announced plans to fund and support the first dedicated pangolin veterinary ward in Africa in partnership with the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.
Tanya Dos Santos, the global head of sustainability at Investec said, “We believe that corporate investment in biodiversity and inclusive conservation is vital to sustaining South Africa’s rich wildlife and benefits future generations of both people and animals.”
She added, “We’re delighted to extend our support of critically endangered species to include pangolin – through rescue, awareness, community upliftment and combatting illegal wildlife trafficking.”
Nicci Wright, co-founder of the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital and a wildlife rehabilitation specialist said, “Pangolins are currently the world’s most trafficked non-human mammal. In 2019, 97 tonnes of scales were trafficked from
Africa, which equates to roughly 160 000 pangolins.”
The hospital has established itself as a global leader in the field of pangolin veterinary treatment and rehabilitation by developing specialised treatment protocols for these animals.
The hospital is currently the only facility mandated by the South African government to treat and rehabilitate pangolins confiscated in South Africa by the police and conservation law enforcement officers on a long-term basis.
The facility has already treated over 130 pangolin patients since it opened in March 2017. And together with the African Pangolin Working Group, the hospital oversees the release and post-release monitoring of all pangolins discharged from the hospital.
Wright added, “We provide treatment to all small and medium indigenous wildlife free of charge and, as such, rely solely on the support of our community and corporate sponsors, like Investec, to fund our hospital.”
Through this support, and the expertise of co-founder and head veterinarian Dr Karin Lourens and her team, the hospital has raised its treatment, rehabilitation and release rate from 50 per cent to 80 per cent over the past four years.
Dos Santos added, “The financial support will also help to kit out the hospital with the latest equipment, including a theatre light, an oxygen generator, an examination table and an X-ray machine, necessary to treat these critically endangered mammals and provide them with optimal care.”
Dr Lourens and her team will conduct all medical treatment on pangolins in a specially designed ward with its own theatre.
The dedicated pangolin ward, which is off-site at an undisclosed location, will help to reduce the stress on these animals and improve their chances of recovery.
Wright concluded, “This investment supports our vision to become a world-class provider of veterinary care for endangered pangolins, while also serving as a teaching hospital for veterinary students and a base for academic research to support global conservation efforts.”
