Today is World Pangolin Day, an event dedicated to highlighting this unique and rare mammal. Eight different species of pangolins live in Asia and Africa, and all are known for their solitary, nocturnal lives. Those sharp, protective scales are made of keratin, the same stuff as your hair and fingernails. Pangolins also have short legs and long, curved claws that come in handy when digging into an ant mound or a termite nest for food. By curling into a ball, the pangolin protects its belly and the inner parts of its limbs—the only areas of a pangolin’s body not covered by thick scales. But that defense is useless against its biggest threats, which include deforestation and poaching. We’re grateful for the conservation organizations around the world that are working to protect this species and its habitat.
It’s not a pinecone, it’s a pangolin
Today in History
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Fox kits
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1934 Labor Day parade, Gastonia, North Carolina
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Next stop, Tofino
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That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
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Grab onto the handlebars, kid
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The Kelpies statues in Falkirk, Scotland
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Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
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Juneteenth
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Sky island views
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Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
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Veterans Day
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Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey
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A Flag Day tradition
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Happy Lunar New Year!
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The monsoon arrives in the desert
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A city of bridges
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Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia
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Hiking the High Trestle Trail
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Black History Month
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Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
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Time to count some birds
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A wonder in winter
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Welcome to the Ring of Fire
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International Cheetah Day
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Enter the magical world of Livraria Lello
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Humpback whales in Maui, Hawaii
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Bangkok, Thailand
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Harvest time in the Palouse
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Channel Country, Australia
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Coming home to roost