Wild and Kind Kids Podcast

The Pangolin

• Wild and Kind Kids

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0:00 | 20:45

Deep in a warm, moonlit rainforest in Africa lives Penny the pangolin, a quiet, scaly explorer with a secret she’s not so sure about.

Her tongue is … long.  Like, really long. Longer than her head. Longer than her legs. Maybe even the longest in the whole forest.

But there’s just one problem: she has no idea what it’s for.

As night falls and the forest comes alive, Penny watches other animals use their amazing abilities to swing, fly, and find food. Meanwhile, her tongue just … hangs there.

That is, until a curious bushbaby shows up with a big idea: what if they run a few tests to figure it out? 

Join Carie, Lincoln, and Eliza as they explore the strange, surprising, and super-powered world of one of Earth’s most unique animals: the pangolin.

Kids will discover:

  • How pangolins use their long, sticky tongues to eat insects
  • Why scales are a pretty smart adaptation for a mammal 
  • Why pangolins are called the “guardians of the forest”

Keep exploring:

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

SPEAKER_00

Welcome back to Wild and Kind Kids, everyone. Are you ready to get moving?

SPEAKER_01

Yes!

SPEAKER_00

Okay, today we are gonna focus on getting small. I want you to crouch down low. And if you're in a car seat, you can just tuck in as much as you can. Pull your knees in tight, wrap your arms around your legs. Can you guys make yourselves into a tiny ball? Can you get even smaller? Lincoln and Eliza are disappearing over here. Smaller. Now freeze!

SPEAKER_01

I couldn't breathe.

SPEAKER_00

Stay tucked in. Don't move. Because this is what today's animal does whenever it feels scared. It doesn't run. It just turns itself into a ball so tough most predators can't get through. Let's get learning. I'm Carrie, and I grew up on a zoo.

SPEAKER_02

I'm Lincoln. I'm Eliza. And we're wild about animals.

SPEAKER_00

Welcome to the Wild and Kind Kids Podcast. Hey Lincoln and Eliza. Hi, Bob. So today we are talking walking pine cones.

SPEAKER_02

Pine cones don't walk. That's not even an animal.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, you got me. That's actually a nickname for today's animal, which was requested by our listener from California, Rich.

SPEAKER_02

Hi, Rich. Hi Rich. Great suggestion.

SPEAKER_00

I hope you have a great day. A walking pine cone is actually what people call the pangolin.

SPEAKER_02

That makes more sense. Yeah, it makes a lot more sense.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, and honestly, the nickname kind of fits. Pangolins are mammals that live across Africa and Asia, everywhere from rainforests to savannah. Imagine a large house cat-sized creature with four legs and a long, thick tail. They can actually be a variety of sizes, but stick with me. It has a tiny head, little eyes, and a long, pointy nose for sniffing out insects. As it moves, its body moves pretty close to the ground. But here is where things get interesting. Instead of fur, it is covered in hard, overlapping scales. That's why people think it looks like a pine cone. Alright, Lincoln and Eliza, we have a picture of a pangolin here. What do you see when you look at one?

SPEAKER_02

I think it looks kind of like a pine cone badger because of its face and then prickles that look like a pine cone. So it's like face looks like a badger's face, and the rest looks like a pine cone.

SPEAKER_00

I love it. Pine cone badger. How about you, Eliza?

SPEAKER_02

Its nose looks kinda like Ramble's nose.

SPEAKER_00

Our dog?

SPEAKER_02

A dog nose. And on the inside it looks like dirt. Or like carved wood.

SPEAKER_00

Ooh, so it looks like it's carved wood? I love that. Every time I look at one, I see a little dinosaur. But other people call them scaly anteaters. Or even artichokes with tails. But fun fact, they are actually more closely related to dogs and cats and bears than anteaters. Alright, Lincoln and Eliza, what else can you tell us about the pangolin?

SPEAKER_02

Daddy Owen Mables with scales. Can you believe that?

SPEAKER_00

That's right. We obviously mentioned the scales before, but this is a pretty cool superlative for an animal. They are the only mammals on Earth that are covered in scales. And not just a few. Their bodies are covered in hundreds of hard, overlapping scales. In fact, scientists think that their scales can make up 20% of their body weight for some pangolins. And here's something cool. Those scales are made of the same stuff as your fingernails. So run your finger across your nails and imagine that same feeling, but covering your whole body like a suit of armor. Pretty cool. What else can you tell me?

SPEAKER_02

They roll into a ball to stay safe.

SPEAKER_00

Yes! When a pangolin feels threatened, it doesn't run away. It curls into a tight, tiny ball, just like we did at the beginning. And when they roll up, they can sometimes scrunch down to appear nearly half their size, which makes them tougher to grab. But most importantly, their scales form a super tough shield on the outside. So most predators can't bite through. Even lions struggle to do it. And if that is not enough, penguins have one more trick. They can release a super stinky smell from glands at the base of their tail. So imagine this hard ball of armor that also smells pretty gross. Okay, give me another fact, y'all.

SPEAKER_02

They eat with locks.

SPEAKER_00

True, but I might need to explain this one. So penguin do not have teeth, they have long snouts and tongues that help them slurp up insects. But teeth, as we know, are actually pretty important. They help us chew and break down our food. So no teeth means pangolin can't chew their food like we do. So what's a pangolin to do? They swallow their food whole, and their stomach does the hard work. Inside their stomach are tiny bits of grit, like sand or little rocks, that they've picked up while eating. That grit helps them grind up their food, kind of like how your teeth would. So their stomach is actually kind of doing the chewing for them. Okay, another fact. The babies have to ride on their mama's tails. That's right. Baby penguins have one of the cutest rides in the animal kingdom. When they're small, they climb right up onto their mom's tail and they hang on while she walks. So imagine going for a walk, but instead of holding hands, you're getting a piggyback ride on a scaly swinging tail. This isn't just adorable, it plays a really important role. When baby penguins are born, their scales are soft, and that makes them very vulnerable to predators. They are not yet lion, can't even touch them strong. But by riding on their mom's tail, if danger comes, she can roll into a ball and actually curl around the baby to protect it, which makes it adorable and resourceful. Maybe one more fact.

SPEAKER_02

Some penguins walk on their hind legs.

SPEAKER_00

Yes. Now imagine this for a second in your mind. These scaly creatures toddling across the ground on their hind legs. Remember how I said they look like dinosaurs? Yeah. Now, this isn't true for all pangolin, but it is true for a few, especially the giant pangolin. And this funny shuffle has a real purpose. It keeps their powerful front paws and claws safe. And they're able to do it because they have a powerful and large tail that helps them balance, kind of like a built-in kickstand. Wild. All right, y'all. Let's meet a penguin up close in our story of the day. Today, we're traveling to a warm, leafy rainforest in Africa, where the air is thick and humid. Bugs buzz around, and the ground feels alive with tiny crawling creatures. Under the trees, something small is shuffling through the leaves, low to the ground, quiet, and covered in scales. This is Penny, a pangolin, and Penny has a secret. And it's one that makes her a little embarrassed. Penny has a very, very long tongue. In fact, she's pretty sure it might be the longest tongue in the whole rainforest. It's longer than her head. It's longer than her legs. Which would be great, she thinks, if she had any idea what to do with it. As the forest grows dark and the night begins, it seems like every animal she sees has a special something and knows exactly what to do with it. A vervet monkey darts high through the trees, leaping branch to branch, never missing a landing. Its long tail stretches out behind it, helping it balance before it settles in for the night. An owl glides silently past, barely a whisper in the air. Its soft feathers hush the wind, so no one hears it coming. A jennet slips through the shadows, quiet as a whisper, and light on its feet. Its long spotted tail curls and flicks behind it, helping it balance as it climbs and creeps through the trees. All these cool features, all with a very clear purpose. Penny looks down at her long, floppy, sticky tongue.

SPEAKER_02

Hmm Cool tongue, but for what?

SPEAKER_00

Just then, a tiny bush baby leaps down from a nearby tree. He lands softly in the leaves and peers at her. Penny says. The bush baby blinks his big round eyes.

SPEAKER_02

Well that too.

SPEAKER_00

Penny sighs again.

SPEAKER_02

I think it's supposed to be useful, but I just don't know how.

SPEAKER_00

The bush baby grins.

SPEAKER_02

Ooh, sounds like a challenge. I bet we can figure it out. We just need to test it. Tester? Test it. I realized I had these super big ears. And I didn't know why. My mom showed me how to test some ideas. She called it the scientific method.

SPEAKER_00

Penny tilts her head.

SPEAKER_02

The what method? The scientific method. It's when you make a hypothesis and then test it out.

SPEAKER_00

Penny thinks for a moment.

SPEAKER_02

Huh. A hypophysis? A hypothesis, a guess.

SPEAKER_00

He leans in.

SPEAKER_02

Like maybe your tongue is for lassoing the moon. Let's try it.

SPEAKER_00

Penny looks up at the glowing moon peeking through the trees. Suddenly, she's not sure this is a good idea.

SPEAKER_02

Actually, that seems far. Only one way to find out.

SPEAKER_00

Penny leans back. She stretches her tongue up. Higher, higher, higher.

SPEAKER_02

I don't think it's for lasso and the moon. Probably for something else. It's too far.

SPEAKER_00

Her tongue flops gently down onto a branch. Plop.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, new idea. Maybe it's for hanging from a tree. That's how I use my feet, like what I'm doing right now. See? Super useful.

SPEAKER_00

Penny looks at her tongue, then at the tree.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, here goes nothing.

SPEAKER_00

She stretches her tongue up and tries to wrap it around a branch. And for a second, it holds. Then slip. Penny drops back to the ground in a soft little heap.

SPEAKER_02

I don't think that's it. Hmm, what about grabbing snacks? Can you grab that fruit?

SPEAKER_00

Penny perks up a little.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, maybe.

SPEAKER_00

She stretches her tongue toward a bright piece of fruit hanging nearby. Higher, higher, plop. It just sticks to a leaf again.

SPEAKER_02

Still not helpful yet.

SPEAKER_00

The experiments continue. They wonder if it's meant to wrap around her body, like a protective shell. But no, trying it just makes her feel like a pretzel. They test whether it helps her balance as she carefully steps across a fallen log. One step, two step, ouch! She accidentally steps on her tongue and then tumbles gently back into the leaves. Definitely not that. The bushbaby scratches his head. Okay, new plan, let's measure it. They stretch Penny's tongue carefully across the forest floor. The bushbaby starts at one end and scoots forward.

SPEAKER_02

One bush baby, two bush baby, three Stop counting bushbabies. Fine, but it is very long.

SPEAKER_00

Penny sighs and slumps down.

SPEAKER_02

See, it's just weird.

SPEAKER_00

The bushbaby settles beside her, quieter now.

SPEAKER_02

Huh. Maybe we just haven't found the right thing yet.

SPEAKER_00

Just then Penny hears something. A soft, scratchy, crinkly sound. She lifts her head.

SPEAKER_02

Do you hear that?

SPEAKER_00

The bush baby tilts his head.

SPEAKER_02

Hear what?

SPEAKER_00

The penny turns slowly and looks down. Rising out of the ground is a tall, crumbly tower. A termite mound. The sound is coming from inside. Penny steps closer. It sniffs. Her eyes widen.

SPEAKER_02

Wait. Wait what?

SPEAKER_00

Slowly, but carefully, Penny lowers her head. She slips her long tongue into a tiny crack in the mound. There's a pause. Then she pulls it back out. It's covered in termites. The bush baby's eyes go wide. You just ate like a hundred bucks. Penny blinks. She licks her lips. Oh, that was tasty. She tries again. Slip. Slurp. Again. Slurp. Her eyes get bigger each time. Oh, oh, this is what my tongue's for. The bush baby starts laughing. That's what it's for. Penny grins. Again she reaches in. Slurp. Again.

SPEAKER_02

Slurp. I don't need to lass at a moon. I don't need to hang from a tree.

SPEAKER_00

She slurps one more time, smiling at her new friend.

SPEAKER_02

I just need to find what I was made for.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, y'all. As always, today's story has a real science connection. Penguins really do have crazy long tongues. Like tongues so long they actually start deep inside their body. And in some cases, they can be as long as their whole body, not counting the tail. That's crazy long, y'all. But also crazy important. Just like in our story, a pangolin's tongue is perfectly designed for slurping up insects.

SPEAKER_02

That makes them an insectivore.

SPEAKER_00

It does. That means an animal that eats insects. And in fact, a single pangolin can eat up to 70 million insects in a year.

SPEAKER_02

70 million? That's a lot of bugs.

SPEAKER_00

It is. So to do it, penguins use their strong curved claws to rip open termite mounds or antnests. Then, as the insects start rushing around, their tongue gets to work. It's long, skinny, and super sticky, kind of like a piece of fly paper or tape. In and out, in and out, slurp, slurp, slurp, they grab insects and termites faster than you can count. And since they don't have teeth, they swallow all of that food whole and they let their stomach take it from there. And here's something amazing. When pangolins slurp up bugs, they actually squint their eyes and scrunch their noses tight to keep the insects out. So it's all food and no pesky bites. Just a perfectly built bug slurpin machine. Before we go, it's time for your Wild Condition. Be a penguin protector. Yes. Because here's something important to know. Scientists believe that penguin are taken from the wild more than any other animal on Earth, which means there are fewer and fewer of them in the places they belong. And that's a problem because penguin play an important role in their ecosystem. In fact, they have one other nickname we haven't mentioned.

SPEAKER_02

The Guardians of the Forest.

SPEAKER_00

Yes. So all those insects they slurp up, those insects can actually destroy the forest if left unchecked. And scientists estimate that a single pangolin might help protect 31 football fields worth of rainforest from destruction. But here's the good news. There are lots and lots of people around the world who are working hard to protect pangolins. And we can be part of that too. That's why your mission is be a pangolin protector. That could look like teaching someone else about the pangolin and what makes them so important for the world. Avoiding anything sold that comes from pangolins. Raising money to help the people who are doing their best to save them. Like the Penguin Crisis Fund.

SPEAKER_02

Because when more people know, more people care.

SPEAKER_00

And when more people care, animals have a better chance to stay safe. Thanks everyone. We'll post some more resources about protecting pangolins on our Instagram account this week. Your grown-up can follow us at Wild and Kind Kids Pod. We'll see you again next week. If you're enjoying these adventures, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review and tell your friends. Check out the show notes to find a coloring sheet for today's creature. And explore more episodes at wild and kindkids.com. To show us your coloring sheet or request an animal for a future story, contact us at wild and kindkidspod at gmail.com. You can also find us on Instagram at Wild and Kind Kids Pod. Thanks for exploring with us, friends. Until next time.

SPEAKER_02

Keep your heart kind and your curiosity wild.