Symbolizes: Protection
Covered in elegant armor and led by instinct, the Pangolin is nature’s quiet guardian; a gentle reminder that true strength often lies in softness.
There are eight species of pangolins across Africa and Asia, and though they look reptilian, they are in fact mammals, shy, solitary, and highly sensitive. Their closest relatives are carnivores like dogs and cats, yet pangolins live on a steady diet of ants and termites, with a single individual consuming up to 70,000 insects per year.
The name “Pangolin” comes from the Malay word penggulung, meaning “one who rolls up.” When threatened, they curl into a near-impenetrable ball, protected by overlapping keratin scales, remarkably, the same protein found in our hair and nails. These scales can make up 20% of their body weight and are their only defense, along with a strong, musky odor released to deter predators.
The Chinese Pangolin, found throughout East and Southeast Asia including China, India, Nepal, and Bhutan is one of the most endangered. The exact number remaining in the wild is unknown.
Pangolins hold the heartbreaking title of being the world’s most trafficked mammal. Coveted for their scales, which hold no medicinal value, they are victims of relentless poaching. In 2019, authorities in Singapore intercepted a single illegal shipment from Nigeria carrying 14 tons of pangolin scales, the equivalent of 72,000 individual pangolins.
And yet, there is still hope. Conservation awareness continues to rise, and every year, the third Saturday of February marks World Pangolin Day. A global call to protect this mysterious and gentle creature.
Pangolins can live up to 45 years in the wild, if given the chance. They ask for little, just safety, and space to exist.
Let your purchase be a shield for the voiceless.
Each candle supports vital efforts to protect pangolins and end the illegal wildlife trade threatening their future.
Illuminate your space and help protect what cannot protect itself.
Enjoy the wonderful and insightful documentary now on Netflix "Pangolin - Kulu's Journey"