February 17th
World Pangolin Day
World Nutmeg Day is always celebrated on the third Saturday of February. In recent years, nutcrackers have finally come into the awareness - if not of the general public, then at least of those who are interested in nature and its protection. The holiday is intended to draw attention to the uniqueness of these mammals and their threat from illegal hunting and trade.
Praha Zoo has successfully weaned a baby pangolin onto solid food, marking the first successful breeding of the species in Europe. The pangolin, which is covered in scales and rolls up into a ball for protection, is the most trafficked mammal in the world due to demand for its meat and scales. If the killing of pangolins is not stopped, they face extinction.
