Wednesday Zen Moment: When a nearly-poached pangolin is set free

Pangolins are the most trafficked animal in the world.

But not this one.

Rangers with Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo confiscated this young pangolin from poachers. Her mother had already been killed.

Officials spent a month nursing her back to health and released back into the wild.

“It was fascinating to get to know her over the month and watch her walk, feed, drink and sleep,” the park posted on Instagram. “Something that is not often witnessed.”

So prehistoric looking. And so very cute, too.

This was taken a few weeks ago when the young #pangolin that we confiscated from poachers on the Park’s western boundary, and were looking after here in #Garamba, was out on a walk looking for termites. Her mother had been killed and she was weak and slightly underweight when the Park rangers brought her in. After spending a month at headquarters gaining strength and weight, she was recently released back into the wild. It was fascinating to get to know her over the month and watch her walk, feed, drink and sleep – Something that is not often witnessed. Pangolins are the most trafficked animal in the world and many of those poached and removed come from the Central African forests. #conservation #africanparks @africanparksnetwork @garamba_national_park 🎥@jeanlabu

A post shared by Garamba National Park (@garamba_national_park) on May 6, 2017 at 10:08pm PDT

Main photo Garamba National Park/Instagram