Our Work
The Pangolarium
Since 2016, the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG) has been holding on to our dream of creating a Pangolarium, a ‘place for pangolins’. “When the signage went up, we finally saw what the dream looked like – what a moment,” Alexis Kriel
Through many successful rehabilitation and releases of pangolins rescued from the illegal wildlife trade over the years, APWG has helped develop successful techniques and best practices to improve release rates and support better outcomes for pangolins.
Working with Law Enforcement
The APWG has observed South African pangolin poaching increase from 2007 onwards. At the same time, the illegal trade in pangolin scales escalated. In 2019 alone, scales from an estimated 600,000 pangolins were seized en route from Africa to Asia, proof that this animal was in serious trouble.
Rehabilitate & Rewild
At APWG, we work to conserve pangolins across Africa and rescue every individual saved from the illegal wildlife trade. Confiscated pangolins need specialised veterinary care and a careful, slow-release programme to help them adapt to new habitats with safe burrows and abundant food. Each successful rehabilitation strengthens the survival of the species in the wild.
Collaboration
Collaboration is central to APWG’s mission. We partner with ethical, like-minded organisations to strengthen conservation efforts and fight extinction. By sharing our expertise with associates across Africa’s pangolin range states, we help build a united front for pangolin protection.
Research
Since its inception, APWG has been dedicated to the generation of knowledge and best practices to support pangolin conservation in South Africa. Now, APWG is focused on sharing our expertise across Africa – wherever pangolins occur – to raise standards of care, train professionals to improve seizure rates, educate the youth, create standard operating procedures, outline guiding principles of law enforcement, and facilitate transboundary co-operation.
APWG Junior Eco-Rangers
The Junior Eco-Ranger Programme is a structured community- and school-based environmental education programme implemented by the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG). The programme targets Grade 6 to Grade 8 learners from disadvantaged communities and aims to nurture environmental awareness, conservation ethics, leadership skills, and learner confidence.
