The Pangolin Paradox: Sri Lanka’s Most Mysterious Mammal (That You’ve Probably Never Seen)

Imagine a creature that looks like a walking pinecone, eats with no teeth, wears armor like a medieval knight, and could give your vacuum cleaner a run for its money. Meet the Sri Lankan pangolin—a shy, scaly enigma that has mastered the art of hide-and-seek so well, even most Sri Lankans have never seen one in the wild.

Yes, it’s real. No, it’s not a Pokémon. And yes, it’s in serious trouble.

Meet Sri Lanka’s real-life dragon: the shy, scaly pangolin. Nature’s pest control expert, and one of our most mysterious mammals.

Why This Matters (a.k.a. “Why you should care about an armored anteater you’ve never met”)

Pangolins are sometimes called the world’s most trafficked mammals. That’s right—more trafficked than elephants, rhinos, or even those knock-off cricket jerseys people sell on street corners. Their meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of Asia, and their scales—made of the same stuff as your fingernails—are used in traditional medicine, despite having zero proven health benefits (unless you count bankruptcy as a health condition).

Sri Lanka is home to the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), a species found across parts of South Asia. But the Sri Lankan variant has its own quirks—adapted to our forests and scrublands, it plays a vital role in the ecosystem, gobbling up ants and termites like a natural pest control system. No pesticides, no side effects, just one very hungry armored bug-eater.

What’s the Challenge?

Let’s put it this way: if you had a magical creature that was shy, harmless, and minding its own business, what would you do?If your answer is “leave it alone,” congratulations! You’re not the problem.

Unfortunately, pangolins are under siege. In Sri Lanka, they're hunted for meat and traditional beliefs, often caught in snares or killed out of fear. And because they’re nocturnal, solitary, and quiet, their decline is almost invisible. Out of sight, out of mind.

Add to that deforestation and habitat loss, and you’ve got a recipe for vanishing biodiversity with a side of guilt.

But here’s the kicker: pangolins are legally protected in Sri Lanka under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Yet, enforcement is spotty, and awareness is low. Most people wouldn’t recognize a pangolin if it rolled across their living room floor.

Who’s Leading the Charge?

Thankfully, a small army of conservationists, researchers, and grassroots heroes are rolling up their sleeves to protect this rolling mammal.

• The Pangolin Conservation Project, spearheaded by Dr. Priyan Perera and the Biodiversity and Sustainability Research Group at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, has been using camera traps and field studies to unravel the secretive lives of pangolins—tracking their habits, studying their ecology, and raising awareness about the urgent need for their protection.

• Dilmah Conservation has also highlighted pangolins in its biodiversity conservation efforts, especially within the corridors of private and protected lands.

• The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS)—Sri Lanka’s oldest conservation organization (established in 1894!)—has long been a guardian of the island’s natural heritage. From helping establish iconic national parks like Yala and Wilpattu to championing endangered species and habitat protection, WNPS continues to lead the way with research, advocacy, and education. Their recent efforts include raising awareness about lesser-known species like the pangolin and mobilizing communities to protect what makes Sri Lanka wild, wonderful, and worth saving.

  
  

And let’s not forget the small but mighty local forest communities, who are now learning how vital these creatures are—not just to the ecosystem, but to sustainable tourism and Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.

What Can You Do to Help?

Glad you asked. Pangolins may not need a new PR agent (though we’re trying), but they do need your help:

1. Spread the word – Show off your new pangolin knowledge. Share this article. Drop some pangolin facts at your next dinner party. (“Did you know pangolins can eat up to 70 million insects a year?” Watch the jaws drop.)

2. Say no to wildlife trade – If you see bushmeat or pangolin scales being sold, report it to the authorities. Silence helps traffickers; your voice can stop them.

3. Support local conservationists – Follow and donate to groups who are doing the hard work on the ground and need all the help they can get.

4. Volunteer or Advocate – Whether it’s helping with community education, organizing cleanups, or joining eco-initiatives, your hands (or thumbs, if you’re a social media activist) can make a difference.

5. Protect habitats – Every tree saved, every patch of forest preserved, is one more chance for a pangolin to find an ant buffet and live another day.

   
   

Call to Action

Sri Lanka’s pangolin doesn’t roar. It doesn’t charge. It doesn’t command attention. It curls into a ball and hopes the world goes away. But maybe—just maybe—we can be the kind of humans who notice the quiet ones, the scaled ones, the overlooked but irreplaceable ones.

So here’s your challenge: join the Weekly Engage email program (if you have already done that invite one friend this week to do so too), and let’s get to know our wild neighbors a little better, one creature at a time. Who knows—your next favorite animal might be curled up under a tree, minding its own business, just waiting for someone to care.

Fun fact: When threatened, pangolins don’t bite, scratch, or hiss. They roll into a tight ball, using their scales like medieval armor. One pangolin was once found completely unharmed after being run over by a bicycle. (The bike, however, suffered a bent wheel. True story.)

Now that’s how you roll.