Giant Pangolin

The giant pangolin inhabits many countries, with the largest concentration in Uganda, Tanzania. It is found mainly in the savanna, rainforest, and forest, inhabiting areas with large termite populations and available water. It does not inhabit high-altitude areas. A small number of recorded sightings have occurred in western Kenya within the East African montane forests, the first being reported in 1971, with subsequent sightings being made in 2018. One of these sightings took place at above sea level, the highest altitude the species has been recorded at.

The giant pangolin, like other pangolins, is nocturnal, which makes observation difficult. It is also usually solitary, although in one case an adult was seen in a burrow with a juvenile.

Very little information about the reproduction of the giant pangolin is known. Two birth records exist, with one litter in September and another in October, with the young weighing around . As in all pangolins, infants have soft scales that eventually harden, and are born with open eyes. They cannot walk on their legs, but can move on their bellies. During age 6–8 weeks, the young often spew a yellow secretion from their anal glands (that is often said to smell of decay and cabbage) to keep predators and other animals from taking advantage of their mothers.

The giant pangolin is threatened by habitat destruction and deforestation, and hunting for the bushmeat trade.

The giant pangolin has been listed on CITES Appendix I since January 2017.

Phylogenetic position of Smutsia gigantea within family Manidae based on Wangmo (2025.) study: }} }} }} }}