FRANCOIS MEYER

The APWG has funded Francois Meyer in obtaining his Masters degree and continues this funding for his PHD.

This research aims to gain a greater understanding of Temminck’s pangolin ecology and behaviour post-release, in order to aid in future release procedures, management decisions and research opportunities. The pangolins in this study are all formerly confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and released back into a suitable habitat that form part of the species natural distribution range.

Francois has a BSc in Conservation Ecology from the University of Stellenbosch. In 2020 Francois submitted his MSc dissertation entitled ‘Survival and distribution of Temminck’s ground pangolin retrieved from the illegal wildlife trade in South Africa’. Currently, Francois is completing a PhD with the topic: Ecology, behaviour and environmental influence on post-released Temminck’s pangolins (Smutsia temminckii), recovered from the illegal wildlife trade. This project is being completed under the auspices of the University of Pretoria and supervised by Professor Andrew Mckechnie and Professor Ray Jansen.

Francois’ research will aid in gaining a wealth of information regarding the movement, territorial behaviour, feeding and ecology of pangolins and what role seasonal variation plays within these factors. Furthermore, even though veterinary care and rehabilitation aims to support recovery for pangolins retrieved from the illegal wildlife trade, little is understood about the amount of stress these animals experience during captivity or release, and what levels of stress could be considered normal or detrimental to their overall success post-release.