The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) carried out a monitoring visit to Chimanimani National Park in June, with the aim of assessing the progress of the Pangolin Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Project. This initiative seeks to protect one of the most vulnerable and trafficked species in the world: the African pangolin (Smutsia temminckii). The project is funded by resources from the bio Card, a partnership between BIOFUND and Banco Comercial e de Investimentos (BCI), which supports innovative conservation actions across the country.

The project is to establish the first pangolin rehabilitation center in the park. The facility is being created through the adaptation of a specialized container, which will provide suitable conditions for the treatment and recovery of rescued animals. Since 2021, more than a dozen pangolins have already been saved in this protected area, many of them in critical condition as victims of illegal trafficking.

The rehabilitation center will include a first aid room, a quarantine area, and a controlled outdoor enclosure to ensure a safe and appropriate environment for the gradual recovery of the animals. At the same time, the park’s technical team, made up of rangers and staff trained by specialists from South Africa and Namibia, has been intensifying awareness-raising activities with local communities to reduce trafficking and promote greater understanding of the importance of conserving this emblematic species.

As a next step, a post-release monitoring program will be implemented using GPS and VHF telemetry technologies. This system will not only make it possible to track the movements of pangolins reintroduced into the wild but will also provide crucial information on their habitat use patterns and preferred ecological corridors, contributing to long-term conservation planning and management.

The creation of this center and the associated actions reinforce the commitment of Chimanimani National Park, BIOFUND and BCI to protect national biodiversity and combating the trafficking of endangered species.