Ground Pangolin

Smutsia temminckii

The ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), also known as Temminck's pangolin or the Cape pangolin, is a scale-covered mammal of savannas and dry woodlands across parts of southern and eastern Africa. It walks on its hind feet with the foreclaws folded inward, digs or occupies burrows and rolls into a tight armored ball when threatened. Its diet is made up almost entirely of ants and termites gathered with a long sticky tongue. Most activity is nocturnal, though cold weather and individual condition can shift foraging times.

Ground pangolins are not pets, and legal possession is tightly controlled because of heavy trafficking pressure. Rescue and rehabilitation are specialized: animals may arrive dehydrated, injured, stressed or unable to feed after confiscation from illegal trade. Care teams use quiet holding areas, soil or burrow access, temperature control, parasite treatment and carefully sourced ant or termite prey, then assess release sites with telemetry when possible. Field conservation also includes fence and road mitigation, anti-poaching work, farmer outreach and protection of termite-rich habitat rather than simple captive breeding.