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Dr. Karin Lourens, veterinarian, is now known as the "pangolin doctor" of Africa for leading the medical efforts to help the scaly anteaters rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
In this case, she treats an endangered land pangolin, one of the species found in South and East Africa, and is lucky.
He is one of the 50 pangolins rescued this year traffickers of wild animals and entrusted to Lourens.
His innovative medical care for scaly anteaters means that he is more likely to return soon to his natural habitat.
WATCH: A South African veterinarian pioneers drugs for African pangolins
"We know very little about Temminck's ground pangolin," Lourens said. "They have already had this poaching epidemic in Asia for quite a long time. Thus, they had a lot of time to research theirs. While we get one at a time. Asian pangolins in captivity will eat in a bowl. Ours not. They must be out of their natural environment and followed almost while they are feeding. "
The Lourens team has developed a tube feeding method with low-fat, protein-rich cat food to keep alive and recover the saved pangolins.
His research on blood tests facilitated the customization of treatment plans for each pangolin.
Professor Leith Meyer, director of the Center for Wildlife Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria, said the work of Lourens was far-reaching.
"She's discovering some really important treatments," Meyer said. "She discovered some very important things about their normal physiology. How their normal body works And all this allows it and will allow other peoples of the world to better treat their pangolins. "
Nicci Wright is part of the African Pangolin Working Group and Humane Society International. She says that in Africa, it's clear that keeping pangolins is not just about stopping poachers.
"We need all aspects," she said. "And at this point, the most important is the veterinary treatment."
Pangolins benefiting from specialized treatment in South Africa are doing well, said the chairman of the African pangolin working group, Professor Raymond Jansen.
"If we get them early enough, our success rate is more than 90% out of the hospital," Jansen said. "We monitor them until one year after their publication. And their success rate is about 75%. "
Pangolins are one of the most trafficked animals.
With the help of Lourens, it might just be possible to prevent this sweet creature from being completely destroyed.
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