Shumi The Pangolin Regains Her Strength, Heals and Gets to Return to The Wild!

Photo Credit: Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre via Facebook

Found in a desperate state after being injured and thrust into the world of illegal wildlife trade, Shumi fought the good fight and grew from strength to strength to once again live a free life in the wild.

Undisclosed Location* (28 October 2025) – If you’ve been following our wildlife stories, you might remember the inspiring journey of Shumi, a resilient pangolin who captured our hearts. Once found in a desperate state, Shumi was dehydrated, emaciated, and covered in infected wounds under her scales after being cruelly snatched from the wild and trafficked in the illegal market.

Fortunately, fate and caring hands intervened just in time. Shumi was rescued and taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, where she received lifesaving treatment and gentle care. There, it was discovered that Shumi was quite the picky eater, nibbling on a specific kind of ants, and as a result, transferred be transferred to Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre, where she could feed on them to her heart’s content.

After nearly two months in the wildlife centre’s care, she was big enough and strong enough to finally be released back to where she belongs – the wild.

Since she was poached from the North-West province, which is very far from the Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre, the journey by car would have taken around 12 hours, causing much stress to this girl who had already gone through so much.

But thankfully, help came in the form of wings and more kind hearts!

“The Bateleurs came to our aid and organised a flight to take Schumi to her new home, where she is currently settling in well. So far, Schumi is doing well, and she is being monitored to make sure this continues,” confirmed Umoya Khulula.

The journey back to the open wild was no easy feat. It was the compassion and dedication of her many rescuers, along with Shumi’s resilience to persevere despite the numerous scars she had endured, that led to this anticipated moment – to roam freely in the wild once again.

Umoya Khulula expressed its gratitude to Lloyd Rogers for giving his time and expertise to fly Shumi and the team, to The Bateleurs, Debbie at Provet Animal Hospital for covering the flight costs, and all the hands that played a role in getting her back to the wild.

*Please note that all Pangolins taken in by Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre are housed offsite at a secure and undisclosed location for their safety and those who work with them.