Finalist in the Conservation - Short Form category!
An HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and NEWF Production for PBS Nature's YouTube Channel
The pangolin is the only scaled mammal on Earth. This unique feature is their natural protection against predators like leopards and lions, but their armor also makes them a prime target for poachers. The black-market demand for pangolin scales has fueled poaching across ther range in Africa and Asia, making them the most trafficked wild animal in the world.
Elias Mubobo, a Mozambican wildlife veterinarian, grew up near Gorongosa National Park. There, communities see pangolins as a sign of a good fortune. Even so, trafficking has been a problem here and pangolins have become increasingly scarce in the area due to high levels of poaching. That’s a problem, because pangolins play an important role in the local ecology by regulating ant and termite populations. Elias and his team of heroes at Mozambique’s only pangolin rehabilitation center are now doing everything they can to save this elusive creature.
In this episode, Elias tells us about his journey to become a pangolin protector, from how he met his first pangolin to his daily work trying to save this species in the Gorongosa National Park pangolin rehabilitation center. With its incredible up-close footage of pangolins, the film invites us to appreciate these imperiled animals and witness the dedication of Elias and his team members.
Over the years, many pangolins have been rescued and safely released back to the wild by Elias and his team. But their work isn’t over. Elias and his team still have a lot to do, not only to protect the pangolins, but to encourage the next generation to become pangolin protectors as well. Thus, he invites children from the park's surrounding communities to visit the center, learn about the ecological importance of pangolins, and see firsthand the efforts to rescue this remarkable species.
- Runtime12 minutes
Finalist in the Conservation - Short Form category!
An HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and NEWF Production for PBS Nature's YouTube Channel
The pangolin is the only scaled mammal on Earth. This unique feature is their natural protection against predators like leopards and lions, but their armor also makes them a prime target for poachers. The black-market demand for pangolin scales has fueled poaching across ther range in Africa and Asia, making them the most trafficked wild animal in the world.
Elias Mubobo, a Mozambican wildlife veterinarian, grew up near Gorongosa National Park. There, communities see pangolins as a sign of a good fortune. Even so, trafficking has been a problem here and pangolins have become increasingly scarce in the area due to high levels of poaching. That’s a problem, because pangolins play an important role in the local ecology by regulating ant and termite populations. Elias and his team of heroes at Mozambique’s only pangolin rehabilitation center are now doing everything they can to save this elusive creature.
In this episode, Elias tells us about his journey to become a pangolin protector, from how he met his first pangolin to his daily work trying to save this species in the Gorongosa National Park pangolin rehabilitation center. With its incredible up-close footage of pangolins, the film invites us to appreciate these imperiled animals and witness the dedication of Elias and his team members.
Over the years, many pangolins have been rescued and safely released back to the wild by Elias and his team. But their work isn’t over. Elias and his team still have a lot to do, not only to protect the pangolins, but to encourage the next generation to become pangolin protectors as well. Thus, he invites children from the park's surrounding communities to visit the center, learn about the ecological importance of pangolins, and see firsthand the efforts to rescue this remarkable species.
- Runtime12 minutes