Pangolin
Critically Endangered
Background
There are eight species in two continents, in Africa and Asia. The name pangolin comes from the Malay word "pengguling", meaning "something that rolls up". When in danger, it rolls into a ball exposing only the though scales. They live in hollow trees and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites which they capture using their long tongue.
Causes for extinction/ Protection
They are hunted and eaten in many parts of Africa and are one of the more popular types of meat. They are also in great demand in Southern China and Vietnam because of their meat and some believe their scales have medicinal qualities. They are the most trafficked mammal in the world. WWF, together with TRAFFIC, is working in Asia and Africa to protect pangolins against the poaching crisis and are trying to enforce strong national laws to ensure their safety and reduce the demand of the animals products.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015
"Pangolin." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"Pangolin." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.