One call, one flight: How collaboration saved a pangolin from the illegal trade

2 days ago
4 min read

This article appeared in our fifth edition of ThisWildEarth. Click here to explore more content like this.

A baby rock hyrax curiously investigates the unfamiliar faces outside its enclosure. The rest of the clan chooses to keep their distance – some rescued from car engines, others from sticky glue traps. Nearby are tortoises, wild birds, and blue duikers, some victims of South Africa’s illegal wildlife trade.

Scenes like this unfold at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH), where new patients arrive with remarkable regularity and resources are constantly stretched. One whiteboard tracks ongoing court cases another details feeding schedules and care requirements.

No two animals arriving at this indigenous wildlife hospital have the same needs. Some require specialised care, like pangolins. A young female, found during a roadblock in Cape Town in November 2025, was one such case. Still dependent on her mother in the wild, she instead became part of a grim tally: more than 200 pangolins have passed through JWVH since 2017, a reflection of the relentless pressure on the species from illegal trade.

They gave this young female two names, each reflecting a different chapter of her ordeal. Airlink, which transported her to Johannesburg, named her Gugu Peekaboo as she continually peered through the ventilation holes of her transport crate. At JWVH, staff nicknamed her Princess, a nod to her strong will and defiant temperament.

For those who made her journey possible, her survival represented more than a logistical success. For Albert Mokgalapa from Airlink Cargo, being involved in the rescue went beyond logistics.

“Airlink Cargo is a responsible corporate citizen with a significant role in combating syndicates that traffic and exploit endangered species. There is a saying: ‘Until the lion learns to write, the story will always glorify the hunter.’ Airlink Cargo is committed to changing this narrative and shedding light on the plight of endangered species.”

Her story is a case study in what becomes possible when conservation organisations, law enforcement, and the private sector respond in concert – and it began with a single phone call.

Racing against the clock

Her survival depended on speed. Discovered by police in a poacher’s vehicle heading towards Cape Town, she needed to reach specialised veterinary care as quickly as possible. After being stabilised by a local veterinarian, a coordinated effort involving law enforcement and conservation partners – including CapeNature, Impact for Wildlife (IFW) and Airlink – ensured she reached Johannesburg within a day.

IFW plays a facilitative role in wildlife rescue, connecting stakeholders with the partners best equipped to respond. According to IFW director Dr Ian Cruickshank, Airlink was the logical choice once time became critical. A single call secured the airline’s support to transport the pangolin at no cost, allowing her to reach specialised care without delay.

Given Airlink's extensive domestic and regional network, Airlink Cargo is frequently called on to assist with wildlife rescue and repatriation efforts. Mokgalapa notes that such interventions occur more often than most people realise, supported through the airline’s social responsibility donation programme. In addition to returning lemurs and tortoises back to Madagascar, the airline has over the years transported various bird species and even pangolins as part of similar conservation initiatives, according to Mokgalapa.

Without that rapid intervention, the young pangolin may not have survived. As JWVH co-director Wendy Willson explains, pangolins confiscated from the illegal trade are almost always in critical condition – severely dehydrated, stressed, and traumatised.

Initially, the young pangolin tolerated only a single caregiver and refused to eat in the presence of others. She would push people away with her feet if handled by anyone unfamiliar, reinforcing her royal nickname.

Through patience, consistency, and specialised care, her condition gradually improved. She is now getting stronger and more confident at Umoya Khulula Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre – a specialist rewilding facility – where her progress continues under expert care. However, her return to the wild remains some time off. Before release, she must gain sufficient weight and develop essential survival skills. Only then will she find freedom in a suitable, safe environment.

“We have learned the hard way that if you release them too soon, they don’t have the reserves and strength to survive,” explains JWVH founder Dr Karin Lourens.

While JWVH has extensive expertise in pangolin care, it represents just one part of a much broader conservation network. Conservation, Willson emphasises does not happen in isolation.

“We are in a conservation crisis, so playing alone is a waste of time. You need the best people coming to the party to achieve the best outcome.” This collaborative model comes at a cost that few outside the field fully appreciate.

Collaborators making a difference

Pangolins are among the hospital’s most resource-intensive patients. According to JWVH, specialised care can cost between R2 500 and R3 000 per day, (approximately USD 135–165) often including repeated blood tests, CT scans, daily walks, tracking devices, and intensive monitoring.

Wilson explains that a single act of poaching carries massive consequences when it comes to returning that animal to the wild. “Not just financially, but in terms of time, expertise, and effort,” she says.”

This young pangolin survived because people acted quickly and together. One rescue will not end the illegal wildlife trade, but each intervention matters — to the animal, to the species, and to the people who refuse to look away. For her, a second chance at life in the wild began with a single phone call.

You can support the work of the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital by visiting www.johannesburgwildlifevet.com.

Find out more about Impact for Wildlife: www.impactforwildlife.com