By Natasha Kabanda

Veterinary medicine is vital in wildlife conservation because it treats injuries and illnesses and supports broader efforts such as species rehabilitation, research, and policy development. From addressing trauma in rescued animals to providing critical insights into wildlife health and survival, veterinary professionals are essential to the success of conservation initiatives.

In the case of pangolins, one of the most trafficked and vulnerable mammals on earth, veterinary expertise has proven crucial in improving rescue outcomes and long-term survival. Among the professionals championing this cause are Suwilanji Sichone, an animal scientist and the Pangolin Programme Coordinator at Wildlife Crime Prevention (WCP). Her work exemplifies the intersection of science, compassion, and conservation as she leads efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and monitor these elusive animals, giving them a renewed chance at life in the wild.

For Suwilanji, the highlight of her veterinary career has been working with pangolins. These unique and elusive animals have sparked scientific curiosity and left a profound emotional impact on those involved in their rescue and rehabilitation. Pangolins continue to reveal how much remains unknown and how urgently conservation efforts must accelerate.

Zambia is home to two species of pangolins: the Temminck’s ground pangolin and the white-bellied tree pangolin. Both are severely threatened and classified as vulnerable and endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Sadly, Zambia has also become a hotspot for the illegal pangolin trade. These animals are often captured alive, smuggled under horrific conditions, and sold for their scales and meat to meet the demands of local and international markets.

Until recently, Zambia lacked adequate infrastructure, protocols, and trained personnel to care for pangolins rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), the country’s frontline enforcement agency, faced immense challenges in managing the complex health and welfare needs of the rescued animals.

To address this urgent gap, WCP Zambia supported government efforts. With backing from the Oak Foundation and other donors, WCP established a dedicated pangolin rehabilitation centre, one of the few in Southern Africa. This facility offers specialised care for trafficked pangolins, giving them a critical window to recover from the traumatic injuries and illnesses inflicted by poachers, including cases where body parts were amputated while in illegal captivity.

A pressing question in pangolin conservation remains: Can rehabilitated pangolins survive after being returned to the wild?

In pursuit of answers, WCP partnered with Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ), DNPW, and the Pangolin Crisis Fund (PCF) to launch a Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) programme. This initiative tracks the progress and survival of rehabilitated pangolins in their natural habitats, offering insights into their post-release behaviour, ecological challenges, and long-term viability.

The project began modestly. The initial phase involved tagging several pangolins with Very High Frequency (VHF) and satellite tracking devices. Although expensive, these tools were vital in gathering real-time data. Originally designed to track fewer than ten pangolins over a single year, the project received extended support from PCF, enabling an expansion to 14 individuals and a two-year study period. This marked a pioneering moment in Zambia’s pangolin conservation efforts.

Tracking pangolins in Zambia’s rugged and remote landscapes proved physically demanding and technologically challenging. As nocturnal and secretive animals, pangolins often retreat into deep burrows, limiting the effectiveness of tracking devices due to signal loss and battery issues. In several cases, field teams had to conduct intensive ground searches when data suggested a pangolin might be in distress.

Despite these obstacles, the project team adapted quickly, refining equipment use and search protocols. The experience has also deepened Suwilanji’s understanding of pangolin ecology and behaviour. Dual tracking systems proved especially valuable, ensuring continuous monitoring even when one device failed.

The findings were encouraging. Survival rates for rehabilitated pangolins stood at 82% after one month, 64% at three months, 55% at six months, and 50% at twelve months post-release. While not flawless, these figures are considered exceptional in pangolin rehabilitation. They demonstrate that, with proper care and monitoring, most pangolins can survive the critical first months after release, and half can endure for at least a year, even under challenging environmental conditions such as drought. Factors like predation remain beyond human control but are an acknowledged part of the wild.

Post-release monitoring is increasingly recognised worldwide as a crucial conservation tool. Efforts in South Africa and Vietnam have already contributed significant data on pangolin movement, habitat preferences, and threats. However, few African programmes have tracked as many individuals over such an extended period.

Zambia’s post-release monitoring programme has thus contributed vital new data to the global conversation on pangolin conservation. It has also become a model for cross-sector collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, scientists, and funders. Most importantly, it has affirmed that investments in science-led rehabilitation and release can deliver tangible conservation outcomes.

Beyond the statistics, the project has sparked transformation across multiple levels. For conservation professionals like Suwilanji, it has been a professional and personal growth journey driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to a vulnerable species. Given the proper support and partnerships, the initiative has shown how an idea can evolve into a pilot project and a national strategy.

Today, the team is better equipped than ever. With improved tools, stronger networks, and more profound expertise, efforts are underway to refine protocols, support future releases, and strengthen advocacy for pangolin protection. The programme will expand its monitoring, broaden research on pangolin health and behaviour, and train local veterinarians and wildlife rangers in best practices.

The story of pangolins in Zambia is being rewritten. Each rescued animal, each data point, and each step traced in the wild represents more than scientific progress; it symbolises hope. Hope that a species pushed to the brink can still thrive and that dedicated conservation work can chart a new course from crisis to hope. WCP Zambia deserves commendation for leading this groundbreaking initiative, which demonstrates the power of science-based conservation and highlights the importance of having dedicated programmes for vulnerable species such as the pangolin. As threats to wildlife continue to grow, initiatives like this offer a blueprint for how collaboration, research, and compassion can safeguard the future of our most threatened species.