Bone protruded from Nthambi’s leg when she was rescued from poachers in rural Malawi. The criminals did not care that this traumatised and severely injured pangolin must have been in excruciating pain. All they cared about was making money by selling her.
Shy, gentle, nocturnal pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, prized for their scales – used in so-called ‘traditional medicine’ – and meat, considered a delicacy in parts of Asia.
“It was immediately obvious that she was very seriously injured. She was missing part of her back leg”
Nthambi underwent emergency surgery to have her leg amputated before being transferred to our partner, the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT). She was assigned an emergency caretaker to stay with her 24 hours a day, even sleeping in the same room with her.
Nthambi the pangolin lost one of her legs after being cruelly trapped in a poacher’s snare. Source: Lilongwe Wildlife Trust
After her horrific trauma, Nthambi’s recovery is slow. She and other rescued wild animals are counting on you to help support their recovery.
After the operation, Nthambi remained largely immobile, and when she was encouraged to forage for food, she would curl up into a tight ball and refuse to move. Losing a limb in a cruel snare and being ripped from the wild was nearly too much for her. She had to be sedated and tube-fed each day.
She is slowly getting better but she faces a long road to recovery and needs your support.
Every year, our partner cares for pangolins like Nthambi – animals stolen from the wild, and sold on the brutal black market, largely to Asian buyers. Animals who are terrified, wounded and in horrendous pain.
Pangolins like Nthambi can get a second chance – but only with your help.
As Asian pangolin populations declined, trafficking networks shifted to Africa. Today, these ancient animals are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Source: WCRU/ZXZhang
In Malawi our partner rescues and supports pangolins and other wild animals, including wild cats and primates Source: Lilongwe Wildlife Trust
LWT supports some 200 rescued wild animals every day, including pangolins, primates, wild cats, antelope and others that have been injured, orphaned or poached in Malawi. Animals like a young baboon called Benja, whose mother was killed for bushmeat.
Benja was absolutely terrified on arrival – so much so that staff and volunteers had to sit with him for 24 hours a day, every day. He now has a foster mom, Ivy, and together they will eventually join a new troop.
Benja lost his mother to the bushmeat trade. He now has a foster mom, Ivy, and in due time they’ll join a new troop. Source: Lilongwe Wildlife Trust
Here’s how your donation will help rescued wild animals right now:
- $20 / £15 buys ten days’ worth of antibiotics for sick and injured orphans.
- $34 / £25 covers two weeks of care for an orphaned baboon like Benja.
- $68 / £50 pays for milk for the orphans in our partner’s care for a whole week.
- $135 / £100 buys a heat lamp to keep infant animals warm during critical periods of rehabilitation.
- $680 / £500 covers food costs for all animals for a week.
Your donation today will be a lifeline for these fragile and traumatized animals. Please donate right away, and help us care for Nthambi and her friends.
