Habitat - Home Sweet Home

The habitat of the ground pangolin species is quite widespread.  They generally reside in central and southern areas of Africa, including the countries of Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.  Of the 8 different species of pangolins, Manis temminckii is the most prevalent and can live in the most diverse environments. These animals are able to occupy an assorted range of habitats, from forests to grasslands to savannahs.  Millions of other species live in the same habitat as the ground pangolin.  These other organisms are incredibly diverse and range from elephants to water buffalo to beetles.  To learn more about wildlife in Central and South Africa, click here.

Pangolins are solitary animals, living primarily on their own.  They prefer sandy soils where they are easily able to create burrows (shown in the picture to the left) using their strong and sharp claws. They have also been known to take advantage of burrows created by other animals.  Pangolins are most active at night, during which they venture out in search of food, sometimes traveling distances of up to 6 kilometers in order to locate a meal.  After moving in search of food, pangolins return to their burrow, which they will use for months at a time.  In order to claim and mark their territory once they find a burrow, the animals use urine, feces, and other secretions from their anal glands.

Click here to learn about how the pangolin has adapted to this environment!

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