During my time in Uganda, I visited the Pangolin Rescue Center, a sanctuary surrounded by lush, community-held tea farms near Buhoma village. The center focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating Uganda’s four native pangolin species: Tree or White-bellied, Giant, Cape/Temminck’s Ground, and Long-tailed Black-bellied pangolins.
Pangolins are under constant threat due to poaching for their scales, used in traditional medicine, and their meat, considered a delicacy. As the most trafficked wild mammal, they are critically endangered. The center has successfully saved over 150 pangolins and works with local communities to promote conservation and prevent illegal trade.
Since the center prioritizes rescue and release, a pangolin isn’t always on site – so I was lucky to see a White-bellied pangolin during my visit. This little creature, both cute and curious, was going about its daily feeding ritual, quietly sniffing around for delicious insects. Given how rare it is to see pangolins, this made the experience truly unforgettable.
