Rediscovery of the endangered giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) in Senegal after 24 years

Abstract

Pangolins have generated great interest in recent years, largely due to the unprecedented scale of trafficking the species experiences. Detailed knowledge of pangolin distribution in West Africa is lacking, but many local extinctions are suspected. The last documented sighting of a giant pangolin in Senegal was in Niokolo-Koba National Park (NKNP) and dates back to 1999. Following a large camera-trap survey carried out in NKNP in 2023, we present photographic evidence that giant pangolins are still present in the park. Such rediscoveries not only underscore the importance of systematic biodiversity inventories, but also the critical value of West Africa's large protected areas.