In March 2023, temperatures in eastern Senegal rose to 40°C, with cooling rains months away. Despite all this, a dedicated field team from the NGO Panthera, dedicated to the global conservation of felines, and the Direction des parcsnationaux du Sénégal (DPN) (Senegal’s national parks team), led by Mohamedou Ndiaye, did not stop working. The field team walked through Niokolo-Koba National Park to survey populations of large carnivores and herbivores.
As Panthera’s Regional Wildlife Research Coordinator for West and Central Africa, I report on the excellent work of the field team. After months of searching, the field team made a surprising discovery in the heart of the park: the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), thought to be extinct in Senegal. A field team photographed the animal for the first time since 1967. This exciting discovery has created a huge stir and revived hopes for the species’ survival in West Africa.
Several giant pangolins
Niokolo-Koba National Park is one of the national parks of West Africa. Located in eastern Senegal, along the road between Tambacounda and Kedougou, it covers more than 9,130 km² of diverse ecosystems. From woodland savannas to Guinea forests, these environments provide critical habitat for the region’s last remaining populations of leopards, lions and wild dogs. The park management oversees conservation efforts with a special focus on monitoring these important species, with support from the NGO Panthera.
It’s a tough job. To combat this, Muhammadu Ndiaye and his National Parks team have set up over 200 camera traps. These valuable devices operate 24/7 in all weather conditions to capture wildlife activity. Every time an animal passes by, the camera clicks and automatically saves the image. Researchers are often very enthusiastic when it comes to collecting cameras, eager to find out what species and behaviors are being captured. Sometimes, hidden in the middle of these parks are real treasures.
Pangolins, including the giant pangolin, are becoming increasingly small and are classified as endangered in both Africa and Asia. Poachers, particularly in Asia, prey on their meat and scales, which are used in traditional medicine. This has led to a sharp decline in their population. Despite having a wide distribution from Senegal to western Kenya, the giant pangolin is considered “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List and its population is in sharp decline in its habitat.
The historical factors contributing to the decline of the giant pangolin population in Senegal are difficult to pinpoint. Although no studies have been conducted at the time, it is likely that poaching, habitat loss, and fragmentation, factors that have led to pangolin declines elsewhere, contributed to the decline.
The opening of the panther
On December 28, 2023, Muhammadu Ndiaye inserted a memory card from one of the cameras into his computer. He expected to see an image of a wild boar, a leopard or a lion. Instead, he was surprised to find a large animal with scales, a long tail and a thin snout. “It’s a giant anteater!” he shouted.
It was clear it was a giant pangolin. There are eight species of pangolin in the world (four in Asia, four in Africa). Giant pangolins are much larger than the other species. They are about 12-20 times heavier than the West African tree pangolin. The identification was confirmed by the rest of the team and members of the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group.
The giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) is the only species historically found in Senegal. Weighing up to 30 kg and measuring between 1.40 and 1.80 metres in length, it resembles a prehistoric creature with a body covered in keratinised scales. Despite its size, the giant pangolin is an insectivore, feeding exclusively on termites and ants with its long, sticky tongue. It is nocturnal and shy, making it a rare sight.
In fact, the species has not been documented in Senegal since 1999, and no photographic evidence has been obtained since 1967. Researchers considered it locally extinct, particularly after five large-scale surveys in the park between 2019 and 2022 failed to detect its presence.
The increasing human population is increasing the demand for wildlife products and is putting great pressure on pangolin populations. This overexploitation, combined with habitat loss, is making it difficult for pangolins to survive. Despite their exploitation, giant pangolins are protected in Senegal and hunting and exploitation are strictly prohibited.
A promising discovery
The rediscovery of the species in Senegal is great news. It can benefit conservation efforts, scientific research, the economy, society and conservation policy. Scientifically and ecologically, this rediscovery improves our understanding of the park’s biodiversity. It creates new opportunities for research into the ecology, behaviour and genetics of the species and stimulates conservation initiatives.
From an economic perspective, the discovery could lead to increased subsidies and funding for the park to protect the species. It could lead to new laws or regulations aimed at protecting the rediscovered species and their habitats. Finally, from a social and cultural perspective, the rediscovery could increase local pride and interest in preserving the natural environment.
Other species have also been detected
In addition to the giant pangolin, 44 other wildlife species were also spotted during the camera monitoring expedition, including rare West African lions. Thanks to the joint efforts of Panthera and DPN, these endangered lions are slowly starting to recover in the park.
These findings highlight the critical role of large protected areas in West Africa. Niokolo Koba National Park protects the most suitable habitat for the giant anteater at the northwestern end of its range.
The park also serves as one of the few remaining sanctuaries for many West African species, including wild dogs, chimpanzees and Derby elephants. Without a systematic wildlife inventory conducted by Panthera and national park teams in 2023, the giant pangolin would have been missed. We are now able to implement targeted protection and monitoring of this rare and important species.
Strategies planned to protect pangolins will be consistent with those for the rest of the park’s wildlife, including increased protection against poaching through increased, more frequent and better-equipped patrols.
Poaching was a major problem for the park and led to the serious decline of many species until the park team and Panthera formed a partnership in the 2010s. Despite recent increases in financial and human resources for the park’s conservation, they remain insufficient.
Source: Port Altele
