Good save: The homeowner who found the pangolin checking on it before it was taken for treatment to be released back in the wild.
KOTA KINABALU: The persistent barking of dogs alerted a man to the presence of an endangered pangolin near his home in Inanam near here.
Upon discovering the animal, which had curled itself up as a means of protection from the dogs, the man quickly moved the fragile pangolin to a secure place.
According to the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), the man then reached out to them for help.
The role of the WRU is to provide support for the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) in wildlife conservation.
The WRU uploaded a post about the case on its Facebook page several days ago.
“Upon arrival, our team conducted a preliminary examination and found a slight injury on the pangolin’s tail, yet it remained active and responsive, displaying no signs of severe stress,” the WRU wrote.
It added that the male pangolin, weighing 2.2 kg, was then sent to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park clinic for a check-up and treatment.
The following day, the WRU released the pangolin into its natural habitat when a vet from the SWD deemed it healthy and fit.
“Watching the animal joyfully venturing into the forest truly warmed our hearts. We hope this story inspires the public to recognise their crucial role in wildlife protection.”
The locations where wildlife creatures are released are usually kept confidential for their protection and to prevent poaching.
According to the WRU, a swift response from the rescue team is a necessity to ensure that Sabah’s wildlife have the best chance to thrive.
It also said that the success of the latest case would not have been possible without the support of the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation, Orangutan Appeal UK and Oregon Zoo, “whose generous contributions made all our wildlife operations possible.”
WRU said cooperation from locals in informing wildlife authorities of any findings was crucial in the effort to protect and rehabilitate endangered species in Sabah.
