The Shy Anteater - Nature's best kept secret.

Did you know that Pangolins are the only mammals with scales, not reptiles? I didn't. Good for you if you did.

Welcome to the guild,

Today we will be discussing about the pangolin and yeah before you guess, it's World Pangolin Day. It is celebrated on 21st of Feb, every year and acts as a reminder for the most trafficked mammal.

And before we go any further, let's get our eyes on some quick facts about this shy anteater.

They belong to family Manidae. There are three genus present under this family. Speaking of species, there are a grand total eight with four belonging to the Asian regions of China, India, Sunda, and Philippines while other four belong to Africa.

Insectivorous in food habit, it can feed on an entire anthill within minutes. Surprising right? They are said to be found anywhere where they get plentiful of insects like ants and termites. Them being able to survive harsh and diverse conditions makes them one of the best pre historic animals in the wild. I mean, the 'scaly aura' gives it away.

These are solitary animals, and nocturnal. They sound so much like your quester. Most of them live on the ground but some like the black bellied ones can climb trees. I see these ones wanna some adventure. Like other anteaters, pangolins have long snouts and even longer tongues. Sometimes their tongue can be as long as their body minus the tail.

Being the only scaly mammal gets them a lot of attention. These scales are made of keratin - yes, the same material that also makes up your nails. The armor it makes is so tough even the king of the jungle can't bite into it. These pangolins love to roll up somewhat like an armadillo when threatened to escape the danger. I know, many of you might be wondering that what's with the rolling up part? The thing is it makes the pangolin less than half of its original size. So next time when the danger comes up, try rolling up.

Pangolins are excellent pest controllers. Thanks to their diet including termites, ants, and other insects they have a major role in the ecosystem. This shy creature can devour up to 70 million insects in a year. Speak of a big appetite. They are also good burrowers. Burrowing helps with aeration of the soil and also the abandoned ones act as shelters for other organisms, and even as a safe haven in the forest fires.

Having such an importance to the ecosystem makes them a crucial species. But it has also made them a target of poaching and to an extent they are the most trafficked non human mammals. Their valuable scales are the ones that protect them from natural danger but also put them as a major target for the poachers. Pangolins are animals that thrive in the wild and putting them in cages only works for their doom.

The pangolin doesn't roar, doesn't charge, doesn't fight back. It simply rolls up and hopes the world passes it by. But the world hasn't been kind enough to do that. This World Pangolin Day, the least we can do is be louder for the ones who can't be. Share what you know, because awareness is the first armor.

Keep exploring.

-Quester