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🗞️ Driving the news: A new Netflix documentary, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey, shines a spotlight on the world’s most trafficked mammal — the pangolin — through the story of Kulu, a rescued ground pangolin in South Africa
• Directed by Oscar-winner Pippa Ehrlich (My Octopus Teacher), the film follows the 18-month journey of Kulu’s rehabilitation and rewilding, revealing both the emotional connection between humans and wildlife and the complexities of pangolin conservation
🔭 The context: Pangolins are heavily targeted in the $20 billion illegal wildlife trade, primarily for their scales and meat, which are used in traditional medicine and luxury goods
• Africa has become a focal point of trafficking as Asian pangolin species face critical endangerment
• Conservation efforts, such as those by the African Pangolin Working Group, have led to increased law enforcement and higher survival rates, but threats persist — including electric fences in reserves and continued global demand
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Pangolins are not only ecological contributors, consuming thousands of ants and termites daily, but also serve as symbols of broader biodiversity loss
• Their declining numbers highlight the urgent need for wildlife protection and habitat conservation
• Documentaries like Kulu’s Journey play a critical role in fostering public empathy and awareness, which are key to mobilizing global action and policy support for endangered species
⏭️ What's next: The documentary is expected to boost awareness of pangolin conservation and possibly drive donations and volunteer efforts
• New anti-trafficking measures, such as redesigned electric fencing and the opening of a new “pangolarium” halfway house in South Africa, signal momentum in on-the-ground protection
• Conservationists aim to scale these efforts regionally, using the film to garner both public and institutional support
💬 One quote: “You just don’t want pangolins to be seen only as the world’s most trafficked mammal. You want them to be seen as these joyful, unique, special little creatures,” — director Pippa Ehrlich
📈 One stat: Between 2017 and 2019, African pangolins accounted for over 244,000 kilograms of scales seized in Asia — highlighting the massive scale of international trafficking
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