Pangolins

By Paarth Gupta

I bear no resemblance to a cylinder or a wheel, but I share the same feature. My name “Roller” says it all. I derive my name, from my habit of rolling into a ball, whenever I’m threatened. I also go by the names, “Pangolin” and “Scaly anteaters”. My home addresses are Africa and Asia. I am typically found in forests and grasslands. A part of my species is arboreal, while the rest are terrestrial. The reason I rolled my ball pen and wrote this monologue was to spread awareness about the fascinating “Me” and convince people to lead me off the path of extinction.

“Looks can be deceptive” and no creature follows that rule, better than I, the “Pangolin”. After a look at my scaly body, many mistake me for an aquatic animal or a reptile. I have hair on my belly and face, which reveals the secret, “I’m a mammal.” I personally think that we pangolins need better tailors, to make us, more comfortable coats. I have an ice cream cone shaped head, with a tongue, as long as a snake. (Spoiler Alert: The flavor of ice cream isn’t too tasty.) I also have short legs, a long snout, and tiny ears. If you add a tail,

with a mind of its own, you’ll get a pangolin, me! My children are called “Pangopups”. We aren’t social animals, but we do have enemies. The Leopards, Hyenas and Pythons have a thing, or two, or three against us. They’ll leave no stone unturned to taste our flesh. However, the ecosystem has given us an “IOU”. The credit is given, due to the critical role we play, in the ecosystem. It isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, to consume more than 70 million insects, annually. Oh boy!!! My love for ants and termites knows no bounds. I provide free pest control service, 24/7. You would be in for a surprise, if

you’d open my mouth. I have no teeth!!! Much to your surprise, my disability doesn’t stop me from munching on those pesky insects.

My uniqueness makes me all the more special. After all, I am the most hunted creature in the world. If poachers can love me, why can’t you? I have scales to die for (Literally). I’m sought after for medicinal and religious purposes. Your love for pangolins should overpower the poachers’. We deserve a better future. World Pangolin Day (20th February), should be an inspiration for conservation, all year round. Put an end to the false form of medicine, which eradicates thousands of us annually. “Please save me fast, if you want to eradicate my status, as a thing of the past.”

By Paarth Gupta