Pangolin.Africa has launched the Pangolert number, +27 (0)72 726 4654, to facilitate real-time reporting of pangolin sightings and trafficking incidents. The service operates 24/7, linking callers to a vetted network of veterinarians, non-governmental organisations and law enforcement agencies across Central and Southern Africa. The hotline is also on WhatsApp.

Pangolins remain the world’s most trafficked mammal with an estimated 195 000 individuals trafficked in 2019 alone. Limited funding for population assessments means the full scale of the crisis remains unclear.

“Poaching often leaves no trace behind. By building a reliable sighting database, we can proactively protect pangolins rather than just reacting to crises,” says Toby Jermyn, Founder of Pangolin.Africa.

The Pangolert initiative also contributes to conservation research by collecting sighting data, regardless of when or where a pangolin was last seen. These reports help conservationists monitor population trends and inform protection strategies.

Pangolins play a crucial ecological role by consuming up to 70 million ants and termites annually, preventing vegetation loss and improving soil quality. However, with slow reproduction rates as females birth a single pup every 12-18 months, every pangolin saved is vital to species survival.

Pangolin.Africa works closely with veterinary and rehabilitation centres, including the Kalahari Wildlife Project, led by Machel van Niekerk, which specialises in pangolin care and rehabilitation.

“Getting to an injured pangolin as quickly as possible is essential if we want veterinary care to be effective. Pangolert is a huge advantage in making that possible,” says Van Niekerk.

While Pangolin.Africa is primarily supported by Pangolin Photo Safaris, donations and corporate partnerships are welcomed to expand the reach of its conservation efforts.

“We must work together to stop this crisis,” says Jermyn. “It starts with one message and one pangolin saved. The simplest way to join the fight is to put the Pangolert number in your phone. You never know when you might need it.”