Pangolin rescued by Sandton SPCA in Morningside

A dehydrated pangolin was rescued from the captivity of alleged traffickers in Morningside at the end of September.

Sandton SPCA’s senior inspector Ronald Ramalata acted swiftly following being tipped-off about the endangered animal on September 29.

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“I responded immediately. My main concern was that I knew I wouldn’t find it had I been late in taking this case. I wanted to rescue this pangolin,” said Ramalata. “The accused had checked into one of the lodges in Sandton, but the [lodge] didn’t want to be mentioned, because they’re aware that it’s an endangered species. You can’t keep, or be found with, a pangolin.”

Ramalata knew to call for back-up first, and was joined by members of the SAPS Special Task Team, as well as a stakeholder from a rehabilitation centre that deals with wild life in Johannesburg. However, the rescue party faced opposition from the lodge’s management, as they arrived before a warrant had been authorised.

“We struggled to get a hold of the car owner, because the law says we need a warrant. The lodge couldn’t just give us information about this person, which was also a concern – because it was an emergency,” Ramalata explained. “The animal was in the car with closed windows. We decided to break the window and rescue the pangolin – because we didn’t know how long the animal had been in that vehicle.

“It was immediately taken to the vet to be checked,” Ramalata continued. “She’s called Peggy the Pangolin. She was dehydrated, and we found that she had recently given birth.”

Ramalata clarified that the pangolin is a very rare animal to just come across, as they mostly live in remote areas, like in Limpopo where he is from. Lamenting that there are markets for pangolins driven by the Chinese muthi (traditional medicines) market, and exotic dining purposes – Ramalata reflected on how revered the animal is to his community in Venda.

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“We respect the pangolin in our rural home. When you find it, you aren’t even allowed to touch it. You have to report it to the chief,” said Ramalata. “I was told that people do eat them. But I don’t think this one was food. They wanted to sell it. It’s strange that people would take that animal, it’s so valued. We were told, growing up, that treating a pangolin badly can lead to drought.”

Ramalata said that although the pangolin had been rescued from the car, he did not leave the scene until being told where the alleged poacher’s room was. Eventually, the warrant arrived, and two suspects were apprehended for the crime of inadequately keeping a pangolin in their captivity, and suspicion of trafficking.

“The police entered the room, and they did their job. They held the person there, as they confirmed that there had been another suspect who was organising buyers for the pangolin. That person was also arrested when they arrived.”

Ramalata confirmed that this isn’t the first incident of a pangolin being found in Sandton, with signs pointing towards there being an underground network dealing in smuggling the species.

“This is not the first case that I’ve heard,” said Ramalata. “I have heard, several times, that there are people called either Midrand or Sandton (code names) – that’s common areas where people are dealing in pangolin.”

A case has been opened, and charges of animal cruelty, and inadequately keeping an animal, have been laid under the amended Animal Protection Act of 1962.

The accused are currently behind bars, having been denied bail by the Johannesburg Central Regional Court at their second appearance on October 7. The pair will appear in court again on October 22.

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