In the heart of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), the Nyae Nyae Pangolin Project (NNPP) is pioneering efforts to protect one of the world’s most most trafficked mammal—the Temminck’s pangolin. Nestled within the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, a recognized stronghold for pangolins, the NNPP has become a focal point for biodiversity protection, demonstrating how safeguarding a single species can benefit entire ecosystems while fostering cross-border conservation. The project features a research center for endangered species conservation and is opening a community center to support sustainable livelihoods in 2025.

Community-Driven Conservation in Nyae Nyae

At the core of the NNPP is a commitment to community involvement. The project employs 10 full-time rangers from the indigenous San community, who use their unparalleled tracking skills to locate, tag, and monitor pangolins. These rangers are trained as research assistants and equipped with smartphones and camera traps to document crucial ecological data. By blending traditional knowledge with modern conservation technology, the NNPP is not only protecting pangolins but also providing sustainable employment opportunities in a region where livelihoods are scarce.

In 2024 alone, 10 pangolins have been tagged, contributing vital information on their behavior and habitat use. This work is key to understanding and mitigating threats such as poaching and habitat degradation. The Nyae Nyae Conservancy, spanning nearly 9,000 km², provides an ideal refuge for pangolins, with its diverse landscape of semi-wetland ecosystems and broadleaf Kalahari woodlands.

Conservation Without Borders: The Pangolin Guardian Program

The success of the NNPP is inspiring cross-border collaboration, expanding conservation efforts into Angola and Botswana through the Pangolin Guardian Program. This initiative empowers local community members as Pangolin Guardians across multiple countries to take an active role in protecting pangolins and their habitats. They help foster awareness in their communities, protect animals, and patrol the area for suspicious activity. The jobs opportunities within remote areas empowers communities to protect their rare and diverse flora and fauna. Many guardians employed were previously hunting to make ends meet, but are now dedicated to protect their ecosystems.

Further expansion into KAZA TFCA is a significant milestone, aligning with broader conservation strategies that recognize the importance of cross-border ecosystems. The NNPP’s work is proving that by protecting pangolins—an umbrella species—we are also preserving the intricate web of life that depends on healthy, functioning ecosystems.

Pangolins as an Umbrella Species

At the Nyae Nyae Pangolin Project (NNPP), we use pangolins as an umbrella species to protect not just these elusive mammals but also the greater ecosystem and its incredible biodiversity. One really important species is the aardvarks, as key ecosystem engineers, create burrows that provide shelter for a variety of species including pangolins, porcupine, polecat, mongoose, bats, and more. Additionally, the area boasts range extensions for birds and rare reptiles and insects. By conserving pangolins, we help safeguard the habitats that sustain these lesser known yet ecologically vital species. Through our Pangolin Guardians, citizen science initiatives, and iNaturalist, we actively document biodiversity in the region. Since launching our project on iNaturalist in September 2023, we’ve hosted three BioBlitz events and logged 1,868 observations across 643 species—a testament to the richness of this landscape and the importance of protecting it. During these surveys, we host a variety of professionals as well, including the National Museum and expert herpetologists, birders, entomologists, and more. We are excited to host our next BioBlitz from the 21-27 March across the Nyae Nyae Conservancy landscape.

A Model for Sustainable Conservation

Led by Executive Director and Founder, Kelsey Prediger, the Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation (PCRF) has been instrumental in spearheading this project and its regional expansions. The NNPP’s research center, equipped with solar-powered facilities, serves as a hub for conservation research, biodiversity monitoring, and community engagement. Efforts to develop a community center further strengthen relationships with local villages, ensuring that conservation efforts are inclusive and beneficial to all.

As partnerships within the KAZA TFCA continue to grow, so too does the impact of the NNPP. This project exemplifies how conservation, when rooted in community engagement and regional cooperation, can create lasting change. By protecting pangolins today, we are securing a future where wildlife thrives across borders, biodiversity flourishes, and local communities play a central role in preserving Africa’s natural heritage. PCRF is excited to use the NNPP research center as a springboard for initiating further expansion in the KAZA TFCA.

PCRF extends their deepest gratitude to the extraordinary organizations that have helped make the Nyae Nyae Pangolin Project a reality. The support and collaboration of Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, WWF, WWF Namibia, WWF KAZA, the Vienna Zoo, Brookfield Zoo Chicago, North American Pangolin Consortium and Galanthus Foundation have been instrumental in advancing this critical work. Together, these efforts embody a unified commitment to conservation and a brighter future for one of the world’s most endangered species.

For more information, please contact: Kelsey Prediger on director[at]pangolincrf[dot]org