Pangolins move in packs…oops, we mean stacks!
South Africa (23 April 2026) – Just when you thought these pinecone-shaped creatures couldn’t get any cuter…they hop onto each other’s backs and form a stack. A stack of adorable.
Just look at this video and try not to smile. Impossible!
It might seem like odd behaviour, but pangopups often travel the world clinging to their mother’s back or tail. They’re born with very delicate, pale scales and are completely dependent on their moms for safety and support. Over time those scales begin to toughen up, slowly equipping them for life out in the wild.
Pangolins are special, they’re the only scaly mammals and give birth to live young. Moms are protective and devoted to their littles. When threatened, a mother will roll into a tight ball with her baby tucked safely inside, using her body like a living shield.
Sadly, even that level of care can’t always keep them safe. Pangolins are the most illegally traded mammals in the world, and their survival serious risk. The more we understand and speak up for them, the better chance they have at a future.
This adorable video was shared by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund, which works to eliminate the poaching, trafficking, and demand crisis threatening all eight pangolin species.
They fund over 100 projects across 28 countries worldwide to stop poaching, disrupt the trade, and create more awareness about the world’s eight pangolin species under threat!
Locally, heroes like the team at the African Pangolin Working Group work to protect the species. Just this week, a documentary telling the story of one of their rescued pangolins was nominated for an EMMY and a BAFTA!
There’s also an ongoing, worldwide drive to get a pangolin emoji, and everyone can get involved – all it takes is a quick Google search for ‘pangolin’ to help the cause. There’s even a chance to design the emoji yourself if you’re feeling creative!
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