Sparky’s Circle: Be Part of His Second Chance

When Sparky arrived in our care in March, we weren't sure he would survive.

The young pangolin had suffered a severe electric fence shock — a growing but often overlooked threat to wildlife across Southern Africa. By the time he was rescued, he couldn't walk or eat on his own. The electrical injuries had caused major neurological and internal damage, including loss of function in his tongue, blindness in one eye, and large amounts of fluid in both his chest and lung cavities.

To keep him alive, Sparky needed to be sedated twice a day for supplementary tube feeding and intensive supportive care. During treatment, we also discovered a deep septic wound on his tail that refused to heal properly.

Then came another setback.

As his body struggled to recover from the trauma, Sparky's weight dropped dramatically, from 9.3 kg to under 8 kg. Recovery became something we approached one day at a time.

Some days gave us hope. Other days were devastating.

The neurological effects of the shock caused Sparky to walk in circles again. On those harder days, the team jokingly nicknamed him "Postie Malone" because of his endless "circles" — a little humor that helped us through the emotional rollercoaster of his recovery.

But slowly, Sparky began fighting his way back.

It was a spark on a fence that took him out, but a spark in his soul is what brought him back.

After months of intensive treatment and rehabilitation, Sparky is now back in the wild. He is eating on his own, his weight climbed back above 10 kg, and he has been fitted with GPS and VHF tracking equipment so our team can continue monitoring his journey.

His recovery didn't end at release.

Sparky still requires extensive post-release monitoring, and our team continues to track his movements and condition as he adjusts to life in the wild. His treatment also came with significant veterinary and rehabilitation costs, many of which we are still paying off.

Sparky's journey is far from over — and neither is our commitment to him.

🐾 Join Sparky's Circle

For those who want to follow Sparky's story a little more closely, Sparky's Circle is a limited community of 50 supporters who are helping carry him through the next chapter of his journey.

A $500 contribution joins you to Sparky's Circle and helps support the ongoing veterinary costs from his critical rehabilitation, post-release monitoring, and the continued work that makes second chances like his possible.

As a member of Sparky's Circle, you'll receive:

🩵 A personalized certificate featuring Sparky and your name
📡 Exclusive post-release updates as we follow Sparky's journey in the wild
🦓 Exclusive access to the Friends of PCRF WhatsApp group, with private updates from our team, including photos, milestones, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our work
💬 Direct Q&A access — ask our team questions about Sparky, pangolins, and the work we do
🎉 First-look release and monitoring news when there is something special to share
🎁 A 3D pangolin keepsake, limited-edition pangolin sticker and special gift just for being part of Sparky's Circle

Only 50 Sparky Circle memberships are available.

Your place in Sparky's Circle isn't simply about remembering the day he was released. It's about continuing to follow what comes next — the days, weeks, and months that will determine how successfully he adapts to life in the wild.

The threat that no one talks about...

Sparky's story is helping shine a light on one of the biggest yet least discussed threats facing pangolins in Southern Africa: electric fencing.

It is believed that more pangolins die annually in South Africa from electric fences than from poaching, with estimates suggesting approximately one pangolin death for every 11 km of electrical fencing each year.

The heartbreaking part is that there is a simple solution.

By leaving the lowest fence wire unelectrified as a ground wire, and raising the first live wire to at least 30 cm above the ground, pangolins are often able to safely pass underneath while larger animals are still effectively deterred.

We hope Sparky's resilience and survival story can help raise awareness and encourage more wildlife-friendly fencing practices before more animals suffer the same fate.

Why Sparky's story matters

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal on Earth — and rescues don't happen once a year. They happen year-round.

Because of this work, post-release survival rates for rehabilitated pangolins in Namibia have increased from 40% to 90% in just a few years.

Your support doesn't just help one animal. It funds the research, training, veterinary care, rehabilitation, and on-the-ground conservation work that makes every second chance possible.

Sparky's journey is far from over.

Join Sparky's Circle and help us be there for whatever comes next. 🐾

Help Sparky Survive ❤️

Adopt a Pangolin. Give a Second Chance.

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