The Endangered Pangolin: The True Story

Helena Atkinson has worked as a conservationist, wildlife photographer and guide for the last 14 years.  Her passion and interest has always been in mitigating human-wildlife conflict.  It was this interest in the interface between people¡¯s needs from natural resources and the value of having protected areas that lead her to do her research for her M.Sc degree in Conservation Ecology on the relationship between SANParks and the communities surrounding National Parks.  Her research looked at: ¡®The synergies between biodiversity conservation and sustainable rural development of adjacent communities.¡¯  She did a case study of the Tsitsikamma National Park and specifically investigated the fishing rights of the local communities surrounding the Tsitsikamma National Park within the context of South Africa¡¯s environmental laws and policies. Since then she has spent a lot of time in the field, working specifically on projects dealing with the challenges around human and wildlife conflict and the role the tourism industry can play in rural communities. She has been involved with several conservation projects in Africa, including heading up the Conservation Unit at the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. She has extensive experience in the NGO sector, particularly in the areas of governance requirements, and project development & implementation. Helena is also a member of the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group.  Helena divides her time between pangolin conservation projects and leading photographic safaris with her husband, renowned photographer Grant Atkinson.

Although having the privilege of seeing pangolins long before then, Darren¡¯s research on pangolins officially started when he initiated a masters research project investigating the ecology of Temminck¡¯s pangolins (Smutsia temminckii) in the Kalahari more than 10 years ago. Since then, Darren has continued to be involved in pangolin ecological research, has supervised students investigating both ecological and genetic aspects of pangolins, and continues to be active in both the research and conservation of these amazing mammals. Darren is a member of the Advisory Committee of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group and has been invited to present at various international conferences as well as participate in conservation planning workshops relating to pangolins, both locally and internationally.

Dr Shivan Parusnath is a recent Ph.D. graduate at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he researches the population genetics of the sungazer (Smaug giganteus), a threatened lizard species. He has been working on this rare and charismatic lizard since 2011, and the findings from his master¡¯s research on the conservation status of the sungazer have led to important changes to the national legislature on trading the species, and helped create a network of safe habitats for sungazer populations. His work on sungazers led him to research the illegal reptile trade in South Africa, and how it affects wild populations. Parusnathn is also a keen photographer. His goal is to link his passions for reptiles and photography through investigative photography and videography to shed light on the illegal reptile trade in South Africa. was part of the 2017 Young Explorer Leadership and Development Program.