Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

In the town of Hoedspruit in South Africa, a young Temminck’s ground pangolin recently suffered horrific injuries after being repeatedly electrocuted by an electrified farm fence. A fence that cuts through her natural environment.

The shock was so severe that it almost cooked the creature alive, tearing through her scales and flesh, and exposing the bone beneath.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

What makes the situation even more devastating is that when a pangolin comes into contact with electric fencing, its head or unprotected underbelly usually receives the initial jolt. The animal will instinctively adopt its natural defense mechanism – rolling into a ball – and inadvertently wrap itself around the live wire, getting repeatedly electrocuted. This usually leads to death – brutal, excruciating and often slow – but miraculously, Electra survived.

The WORST case of pangolin electrocution our partner has EVER seen: Electra’s injuries were so severe, she appeared to have been cooked alive.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

Please help us rush her emergency care to save her life and alleviate her suffering.

Electra was rushed to our partner, the Umoya Khulula Wildlife Center, for life-saving emergency care.

Umoya Khulula specializes in the treatment of sick and injured wildlife. They told us this is the most horrific case of pangolin electrocution they had EVER seen.

Even though Electra is in excellent hands, her survival hangs in the balance, and she urgently needs your help today. Pangolins are notoriously difficult to treat, as they are easily stressed and often die within a few months of being in captivity. However, our partner is highly experienced in treating these vulnerable animals, and with the right medical supplies, they are optimistic that Electra’s life can be saved…

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

Electra is in critical condition and requires regular visits to a specialist vet for sedation, wound cleaning, and intensive care. She is also receiving daily (and COSTLY) pain and inflammation medication following her horrific ordeal. With your help to provide intensive care, in time, her wounds will heal. Please donate generously if you possibly can.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.Credit: Xiao Shibai/Wild Wonders China

Accidental electrocution, habitat loss and rampant poaching are destroying pangolin populations in Africa. These endangered animals need every bit of help they can get.

Electra is the latest in a long line of pangolins we have saved with your help. In this increasingly vicious world, they really need our support to save them from injury and the horrific wildlife trade – pangolins are often stripped of their scales and boiled alive in restaurants in Asia.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.Credit: Traffic

If we can raise $5,000 (£4,050), we can rush emergency funds to Umoya Khulula to cover Electra’s long-term veterinary care and rehabilitation, medication and a GPS tracking tag so that she can be carefully monitored and protected when she is ready to be released back into a protected wild area. Please, will you help us save the life of this vulnerable creature?

The Temminck’s ground pangolin, also known as the Cape pangolin, is the only pangolin species found in Namibia and South Africa and is currently listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. If they were to go extinct, researchers say it would have a cascading impact on the environment.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

Pangolins play an important ecological role in regulating insect populations and are said to save farmers millions of dollars each year by protecting crops through their consumption of termites and ants. They also contribute to a healthier ecosystem by ventilating the soil and spreading nutrients when they use their long claws to dig for insects.

Every pangolin life counts, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to save as many of these gentle, unique creatures as we can. Today, Electra is our top priority, and we hope that she will be yours too. Please donate to Animal Survival International now.

Saving animals and the planet,

General Manager
Animal Survival International

P.S. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), electric fences are responsible for the deaths of up to 13% of South Africa Temminck’s pangolins each year. There are ways to make these safer for pangolins, and we will work with our partners on long-term solutions. Until then, please help us to save every life we possibly can. Please stand with us to help save pangolins, starting with Electra, by donating right now.

Electrocuted pangolin struggling to survive after colliding with an electric fence.

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