Pangolin rehabilitation is among the most specialised and difficult disciplines in wildlife conservation. These solitary, nocturnal animals eat only ants and termites, stress easily in captivity, and require weeks or months of patient care before they can be returned to the wild. Despite these challenges, a growing network of sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres across Africa, Asia, and North America is saving pangolins one animal at a time. This guide covers the leading facilities worldwide — what they do, where they are, and how to support or visit them.
Global Pangolin Rehabilitation at a Glance
South Africa: Where the Science Was Pioneered
Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH)
Founded in 2017, the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital is South Africa’s first combined wildlife-only hospital and rehabilitation centre. Under Dr Karin Lourens — the most experienced veterinarian worldwide in treating Temminck’s ground pangolins — the JWVH developed the first emergency treatment protocols for the species, including world-first pangolin blood transfusions and gastric peg tube feeding for animals too stressed to eat.
Dr Lourens’s master’s degree in Veterinary Science established the first haematology and serum chemistry reference intervals for Temminck’s pangolins, and she serves on the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group. The hospital has now admitted more than 200 pangolins, treating over 140 different wildlife species annually. It is the only facility mandated by the South African government to treat and rehabilitate confiscated pangolins on a long-term basis.
JWVH runs an intern programme for veterinary professionals and students seeking hands-on experience in wildlife rehabilitation.
The APWG Pangolarium at Lapalala Wilderness Reserve
On 15 February 2025 — World Pangolin Day — the African Pangolin Working Group opened the Pangolarium at Lapalala Wilderness Reserve in Limpopo. Described as the world’s first purpose-built facility dedicated exclusively to pangolin rehabilitation, it sits within the UNESCO-designated Waterberg Biosphere, strategically located in the province where 39.7% of all South African pangolin seizures occur.
The state-of-the-art veterinary unit includes diagnostic technology such as sonar machines, and the facility serves as a base for the APWG’s ongoing research and education initiatives, including educational materials for the Lapalala Wilderness School. The Pangolarium was funded by Lepogo Lodges, and guests staying at the lodge are expected to be able to tour the facility and learn from APWG researchers and pangolin guardians.
The APWG itself was established on 27 June 2011, registered with the South African Government in 2013, and formally launched on 19 February 2015. It is the official African representative of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group.
Zimbabwe: The World’s Longest-Standing Pangolin Organisation
Tikki Hywood Foundation
The Tikki Hywood Foundation is the world’s first and longest-standing pangolin organisation, now a recognised global authority working with over 12 African countries on pangolin care. In the past decade, the foundation has treated more than 300 pangolins.
Since May 2023, the Matusadona Pangolin Monitoring Programme — a partnership with Matusadona National Park — has resulted in 11 successful releases. The foundation also partners with African Parks and Lilongwe Wildlife Trust in Malawi, combining specialised species knowledge with operational capacity in remote areas. Chief Scientist Ellen Connolly leads the research programme.
Note: the Tikki Hywood Foundation does not operate a volunteer programme, and access is by arrangement only.
West Africa: Emerging Rescue Networks
Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary, Liberia
Opened in 2017, Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary is Liberia’s first multi-species rescue centre. Under primatologist Dr Susan Wiper, pangolins are the most frequently rescued and successfully released species at the facility. To date, 71 pangolins have been brought to the sanctuary with the help of the Forestry Development Authority and its Confiscation Unit, and 47 have been successfully released — an approximately 66% success rate.
Rehabilitation is labour-intensive: staff walk pangolins through the forest multiple times daily for at least 90 minutes so the animals can forage naturally on ants and termites. Very young pangolins require bottle feeding. The facility’s work gained prominence through a 2022 CNN feature documenting its rehabilitation methods.
SaintMark’s and LUFASI, Nigeria
In Lagos, a collaboration between the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the Lagos Urban Forest Animal Sanctuary Initiative (LUFASI), and the SaintMark’s Animal Rescue Foundation has rescued 57 pangolins from the bushmeat trade, rehabilitating and releasing them into protected forests. The SaintMark’s Pangolin Orphanage has hand-raised 11 baby pangolins from birth. A Pangolin Soft Release Centre at LUFASI Park was commissioned in February 2021, funded by WildAid.
Vietnam: The Largest Pangolin Rescue Operation in the World
Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW)
Save Vietnam’s Wildlife operates the world’s largest pangolin rescue programme, having rescued over 1,709 pangolins since its founding. More than 70% of rescued animals have been successfully rehabilitated and released into the wild. The organisation has rescued over 4,280 wild animals in total.
Nguyen Van Thai, who grew up near Cuc Phuong and witnessed a mother and baby pangolin killed by neighbours as a child, founded SVW after years of conservation work. He has received both the Goldman Environmental Prize (2021) and the National Geographic Wayfinder Award (2022). SVW established Vietnam’s first Asian Pangolin Rehabilitation Centre and built two fully equipped veterinary clinics with haematology and ultrasound capabilities.
SVW also established Vietnam’s first anti-poaching unit, which since 2018 has destroyed 9,701 animal traps, dismantled 775 illegal camps, confiscated 78 guns, and arrested 558 people for poaching.
The Carnivore and Pangolin Education Centre, opened in February 2016, is the first of its kind in Vietnam and is open to the public. It sits within Cuc Phuong National Park, approximately 120 kilometres south of Hanoi.
SVW offers a structured volunteer programme for skilled professionals. Working hours run from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Fees range from $300 to $400 per week depending on duration, covering accommodation in the national park, three meals per day, a rental phone and bicycle, and WiFi. The Endangered Primate Rescue Centre is located next door, offering additional wildlife encounters.
North America: Advancing the Science of Captive Care
Brookfield Zoo Chicago — AZA SAFE Pangolin Programme
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a global leader in the care and study of white-bellied pangolins. In December 2025, the zoo launched the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Pangolin programme, encompassing all eight pangolin species. Led by Mark Wanner, Associate Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation, the programme’s steering committee includes representatives from Gladys Porter Zoo, Honolulu Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Turtle Back Zoo, and Hertfordshire Zoo in the UK.
On 19 February 2026, Brookfield Zoo announced the birth of a white-bellied pangolin pup to mother Rosy — the 10th pangolin born at the zoo in the past decade — timed for World Pangolin Day. The zoo’s innovations include the modern pangolin diet formulation and the first scientifically evaluated injectable anaesthesia protocol for pangolins. Brookfield helped establish the North American Pangolin Consortium in 2016.
As a public zoo, Brookfield is fully open to visitors and offers the most accessible way to see pangolins in North America.
Emerging Efforts in Asia
Beyond Vietnam, pangolin rehabilitation work is expanding across Asia. In India, the Wildlife Conservation Trust pioneered radio-tracking of Indian pangolins in Pench and Satpura Tiger Reserves starting in 2019, and the Central Zoo Authority has initiated a Conservation Breeding Programme coordinated by Nandankanan Biological Park in Odisha. In the Philippines, the Katala Foundation conducts research, rescue, and community-based conservation for the endemic Palawan pangolin in partnership with the Zoological Society of London, with rescued animals released into protected conservation areas via the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center.
The Bigger Picture
In August 2025, a major report by the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group — commissioned by the CITES Secretariat and drawing on data from 32 countries — found that more than 500,000 individual pangolins’ worth of products were seized between 2016 and 2024. All eight species remain at risk of extinction. In December 2025, the first-ever West Africa Regional Pangolin Conservation Action Plan (2026–2056) was presented at CITES CoP20 in Samarkand, covering 11 range states.
The sanctuaries and centres described in this guide operate at the sharp end of a crisis that spans continents. Each rescued pangolin represents a convergence of veterinary expertise, patient rehabilitation, and careful monitoring. Supporting these facilities — through donations, volunteering, or simply raising awareness — contributes directly to the survival of the world’s most trafficked mammal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I visit a pangolin sanctuary?
The most accessible pangolin-related facilities for visitors include Brookfield Zoo Chicago (USA), which houses white-bellied pangolins and is open to the public; the Carnivore and Pangolin Education Centre at Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam; and the APWG Pangolarium at Lapalala Wilderness Reserve in South Africa, which is expected to offer tours to lodge guests. Most rehabilitation centres limit public access to protect recovering animals.
Can I volunteer at a pangolin rehabilitation centre?
Save Vietnam’s Wildlife at Cuc Phuong National Park offers a structured volunteer programme for skilled professionals, with fees ranging from $300 to $400 per week covering accommodation, meals, and support. The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in South Africa runs an internship programme for veterinary professionals and students. Most other centres do not have formal volunteer programmes due to the sensitive nature of pangolin rehabilitation.
Which facility has rescued the most pangolins?
Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) at Cuc Phuong National Park has rescued over 1,709 pangolins since 2014, making it the largest pangolin rescue operation in Vietnam and one of the largest globally. In Africa, the Tikki Hywood Foundation in Zimbabwe has treated over 300 pangolins in the past decade, while the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in South Africa has admitted more than 200 pangolins.
What is the success rate for pangolin rehabilitation and release?
Success rates vary by facility and species. Save Vietnam’s Wildlife reports that over 70% of rescued animals are successfully rehabilitated and released. Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary in Liberia has released 47 of 71 pangolins received (approximately 66%). In South Africa, post-release tracking shows 82% survival at one month, 64% at three months, and 50% at one year for rehabilitated Temminck’s ground pangolins.