Two Pangolins Saved Thanks to the Exemplary Act of Two Kibula Village Residents

Communication
2 hours ago
2 min read

In a rare act filled with hope for conservation at Upemba National Park, two members of the community from the Kibula village voluntarily handed over two live pangolins to the Management Unit of Upemba National Park (UNP) on World Ranger Day, July 31, 2026.

Far from selling or consuming them, despite their market value in illegal transactions, the two young men chose to protect them. The two pangolins – a fully protected and critically endangered species globally – were taken in by the park’s Biomonitoring team for an assessment before being safely released back into their natural habitat.

To honor this act of civic responsibility and eco-citizenship, a "Food Supply" award ceremony was organized on Friday, August 21, 2026, in Kibula by the Community Conservation team. The ceremony took place in the presence of local dignitaries and featured the highly symbolic presence of the representative of Chief of the Kalonga Grouping (Mitwaba Territory / Haut-Katanga Province), specifically the Land Chief, Mr. Augustin Kayeye Mpeti II, in person. At 76 years old, the highly respected traditional authority confessed to the assembly that he had "never witnessed such an event in his entire life." It was a powerful statement testifying to the exceptional nature of his constituents' actions: "This is my first time seeing young people from the village refuse easy money to save an animal handed down by our ancestors. This is an example to follow for all the youth of the Kalonga Grouping," declared Chief Kayeye, visibly moved.

As a sign of appreciation, the two citizens received food supplies directly from park officials through the Land Chief – a strong symbolic gesture aimed at encouraging the protection of threatened species. The two pangolin rescuers received a "Food Supply" kit containing essential items to improve their households' living conditions: a bag of cornmeal, a jug of cooking oil, a bag of rice, and a pack of matches provided by Upemba National Park.

For the Warden and Head of Community Conservation at Upemba National Park, this inspiring act is not only the direct result of an intensive awareness campaign conducted in the area from June 12 to June 25, 2026, but also the product of a successful partnership between Upemba National Park and traditional authorities, who effectively passed key messages down to their respective communities. This action also demonstrates a shift in how neighboring populations view biodiversity and the work of rangers, thanks to the implementation of commitments made by both parties toward community-led park monitoring.

"The pangolin is the most trafficked mammal in the world. The fact that the Kibula community returned them to us alive proves that the awareness message is getting through and that Upemba's wildlife is starting to be viewed by local populations as a shared heritage – a resource to preserve and a valuable collective legacy – rather than unowned property. We want to live together harmoniously, humans and wildlife, on the same land passed down by our ancestors," emphasized the PNU Management Unit representative.

May this powerful message sent from Kibula village set an example for all communities surrounding the park, marking a decisive turning point and strengthening the partnership between rangers and local communities for effective wildlife monitoring across the Upemba landscape.