World Pangolin Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors one of the most interesting creatures on the planet: the pangolin. Also known as scaly anteaters, these mammals belong to the Pholidota order of the Animalia kingdom.

They live on a diet of ants, larvae, and termites that they pick up using their sticky tongues, tongues that can reach lengths greater than the length of their bodies. They are also covered in keratin scales and can be found in woodlands and savannas in Africa.

Currently, there are eight known species of pangolin, and anyone celebrating this holiday on the third Saturday of February can take the day to learn all about them.

The History of World Pangolin Day

This holiday was created in 2012 by pangolin enthusiasts around the world. The founder of Annamiticus, Rhishja Cota, would end up promoting this holiday. This organization helps to stop the economic exploitation of endangered species around the world. They’re also consultants with USAID Wildlife Asia.

Facts About the Pangolin

Below are just some of the facts about the pangolin that we were able to uncover. We hope that the following facts prove to be interesting to anyone and everyone checking it out today. Let’s take a quick look at these facts before we move on with our discussion of World Pangolin Day.

• All eight pangolin species are protected under international law. Two of the eight are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• In China and Vietnam, pangolins are trafficked for their meat and scales.
• One pangolin can eat over 70 million insects over the course of just one year.
• They are more closely related to dogs and bears than they are to armadillos or anteaters.
• The scales on a pangolin make up about 20% of its overall weight.
• Speaking of scales, pangolins are the only mammals with scales.

Observing World Pangolin Day

Everyone can use World Pangolin Day to not only learn more about these mammals but also to help with causes designed to protect them. Pangolins are some of the most trafficked animals in the world, which is having a devastating effect on their numbers.

However, if everyone took the time to observe this holiday, then that trend could be reversed, and the pangolin could be preserved for future generations. Some of the organizations working to protect these animals include WildAid and the WWF.

Spreading the news about this holiday is also quite useful, and that can be done by using the hashtag #WorldPangolinDay on social media posts. Let’s show the pangolin some love on this day and do our part to protect them.