The Tribe Endangered No. 3 Penny Pangolin

A Penny for your thoughts

And if you think about it

So many Pennys are in peril

So many pennys needed to fund

The work of protecting and rehabilitating

These shy creatures

Happy that while in rehab

You are protected and safe

Not against Hyaenas, your armour fits

Not against lions, your scales protect

Instead against a far worse predator

The worst of the worst

Those who won’t let you stay free

To shyly and harmlessly spend many a nocturne

Unless of course you’re an ant!

She wouldn’t hurt a fly

But she is an anteater

Engaging in nature’s ant control

Patrolling, investigating, curling up in a ball

If a threat is detected, she just rolls

All except for one

And no ode to a Pangolin

Can take the man out of the story

But the stark, bleak sadness

Is contained in another verse

About Pascale

But here we keep it as kind

And as hopeful as (nearly im)possible

Focussing on the light in the plight

And those who care and do something

Care for the rescued Pennys and Pascales

Show them the kind side of humans

The compassionate, the responsible

The never give up, the never quitters

Those that stand in the danger zone

The no-man’s land between the species

And extinction

Yes, This is about Penny

And the plummeting Pangolins

And other red-listed species

But also about the one species

Fighting to defend their right

To keep existing, to stay alive

Spare a thought and gratitude

For the Penny carers

But we need an army of people who care

Greater than the hoardes of exotic eaters

And treaters of Pangolins as apothecaries

Carers like Wild@life e.V.

Without whom Penny would end up

Just a pile of scales in a basket

In a market

Or worse...

This is Penny

Can you share a Penny for your thoughts

Tell us what you think about Pangolins

In the comments add your verse

Give us your take on them

Or more importantly, your give

A.E. Lovell

ae4e.me/blog