If there was ever a sighting to have… it’s this one.

This comes just after World Pangolin Day on February 18, dedicated to raising awareness around their poaching and capture. Pangolin’s are the world’s most trafficked mammals, as their scales are falsely believed to have medicinal properties in some cultures, and their meat is considered a delicacy in others. The illegal wildlife trade has led to a significant decline in pangolin populations, leading to the risk of their extinction. Pangolins play a significant role in their ecosystems by controlling insect populations and aerating the soil.

What a huge privilege to see this shy and elusive animal in its natural habitat.

Photograph by Sipps Maswanganyi.