(Mother and Baby)PANGOLIN: Self-defense
Looking like a pine cone with legs, Pangolin is often called “Scaly Anteater”. However, He is not related to any other animal, Anteaters included. Living in Africa and Asia, Pangolin waddles about sniffing out Termites and Ants. Usually solitary, Pangolin sleeps during the day in his burrow and roams at night looking for his favorite Termites.
With his sharp claws, Pangolin will excavate termite mounds. Then with his long sticky tongue, He collects the victims. A selective feeder, Pangolin uses his acute sense of smell to locate his favorite termite species.
In his travels, Pangolin is protected by his suit of armor made of sharp-edged scales. When threatened He will roll Himself into a tight ball. Usually, this acts as a deterrent. However, when Jackal tries to bite through his armor, Pangolin will wrap his prehensile tail around Jackal’s throat, and choke the attacker.
Local Africans tell of seeing Pangolin taking an ‘ant bath’. He settles into an ant nest, raises his scales, and allows the Ants to crawl underneath. Then Pangolin lowers his scales, crushing the Ants, and goes into the water. After raising his scales, the dead ants float out. People believe that this is how Pangolin cleans his scales.
What people admire most about Pangolin is his ability to defend Himself. Sometimes, Africans bury pangolin scales near their homes to keep Lions away. Pangolin is well-suited for self-defense with his scales and grasping tail. You can learn self-defense from waddling Pangolin.
Wisdom from Pangolin:
Focused Living
Practical Solutions
Creative Thinking
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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008
From Universal Class, fun self-paced classes taught by me:
Finding Your Animal Teachers
Animals For Everyone: Mammals
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