2023-03-31-accounts - The Pangolin Project CIO

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The Pangolin Project CIO Trustees’ Annual Report – March 2022 April 2023

Summary

The Pangolin Project CIO was registered as a UK charity on 30[th] June 2020. The object of the charity is the advancement of the conservation of the species of wildlife which are in danger of extinction, particularly as this relates to the preservation of the pangolin.

The charity was established to support the work of The Pangolin Project in Kenya. The Pangolin Project Kenya is a company limited by guarantee which is dedicated to the protection of the pangolin and their habitat. Pangolin are a critically endangered species. They are illicitly traded internationally for their scales and their meat. In addition in Kenya they are at risk from habitat loss through widescale deforestation.

Between March 2022 and April 2023 funding from The Pangolin Project CIO has been utilized to continue ongoing operational activities of The Pangolin Project, Kenya. These funds have been combined with additional funds from donors paid direct to TPP Kenya. The total budget of TPP Kenya between March 2022 and April 2023 was GBP 82,798 of which GBP 65,875 was from The Pangolin Project CIO.

The operational focus of The Pangolin Project Kenya during the relevant period has been on three key pillars: Research and Monitoring of Ground Pangolin populations; Awareness, education and Training of communities and partners; Rapid response to and rehabilitation of injured and trafficked Pangolin.

Between April 2022 and October 2022 work continued in relation to Temmincks Ground Pangolin. In April 2022 the Project became aware of the presence of Giant Ground Pangolin in the Nyakweri forest, located in Transmara District of Narok County. The area is subject to rapid deforestation for agriculture and the charcoal industry. In October 2022, The Pangolin Project redirected focus and all operational activities to a sole project “Saving the Last Giant Ground Pangolin in Kenya”. A programme was established to monitor and protect and conserve a population of Giant Ground Pangolin in the Nyakweri Ecosystem and the habitat on which they depend.

In October 2022 the Pangolin Project, Kenya focussed their operational activities within the area and started to tag Giant Ground Pangolin. The operational team size increased to 13 individuals and in January 2023 a specific camp was established for the team in the operational area. The team currently covers a total of 450km[2] in their activities. It is estimated that between 30 – 80 individual Giant Ground Pangolin remain in the area. They face an existential crisis from electric fences and deforestation.

During the reporting period The Pangolin Project has developed partnerships with Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institution, Community

conservancies Kimintet Forest Trust and Olorien Conservancy and partners Mara Elephant Project and BaseCamp Explorer Foundation. The project has had significant success in its foundation year and as a result of these efforts has grown its donor base and scope of work in 2023 and 2024.

Objectives

Establish the Giant Pangolin monitoring team in the Nyakweri Ecosystem at an independent camp that enables visits from trustees, donors, partners and stakeholders.
Increase knowledge and awareness of Giant Pangolin within KWS, and in particular the threats to their existence that can be used for political advocacy with Narok County Government and State House.
Expand awareness and knowledge of Giant Pangolin amongst community and households in the Nyakweri Ecosystem.
Identify sustainable solutions to minimise deaths on electric fences and develop a strategic plan for an associated programme, communications, and funding.
Develop long term strategic plans for the survival of The Giant Ground Pangolin and the habitat on which they depend.
Development of a strategic plan for TPP programmes, communications and fundraising over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years.

Activities

The activities between April 2022 and April 2023 were developed to meet the objectives outlined above and were aligned with the 3 key pillars: Research and monitoring Temminck’s and Giant Ground Pangolin populations; developing awareness and training for community members and rangers of partner; rapid response and support for Pangolin.

In October 2022, The Pangolin Project moved all of its operations to the Nyakweri Ecosystem as we established a key stone project “Saving the Last Giant Ground Pangolin in Kenya”. From October 2022 – April 2023, we established an operational base to monitor the last Giant Ground Pangolin and to develop a programme to mitigate risks to their survival.

Monitoring and Research

One of the key objectives within this time period was to develop a replicable methodology to estimate the population of ground Pangolin within a specific area. The Pangolin Project carried out three standardized camera trap surveys within the reporting period to assess the population of Temmincks Ground Pangolin and Giant Ground Pangolin within an area of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and two areas of the Nyakweri Ecosystem.

An initial review was carried out with research consultants to assess the number of camera traps needed and the spacing required to be representative of an area of interest. The methodology focussed on utilisng Camera traps that were placed outside of burrows. All burrows in a sample area were found and burrows were randomly selected at 200m intervals. Camera traps were placed outside for 30 days and checked every third day. All images were reviewed by 2 enumerators and data was recorded on a standardized reporting form. This process for each survey took approximately 60 days to complete. The development of this methodology was highly successful: within the three surveys there were a considerably higher number of pangolin events than seen previously and it was possible to provide an estimate of the number of individuals using the area. This has contributed to the understanding of pangolin populations within the operational area as well as to the wider pangolin conservation movement.

In addition, The Pangolin Project expanded its operational reach, tagging and monitoring the movement and habitat use of individuals. Between October 2022 and April 2023 four Giant Ground Pangolin in the Nyakweri Ecosystem were tagged with VHF and satellite tracking devices. This population of pangolin are at risk of extinction due to the following risks: electric fences, deforestation and poaching. Satellite and VHF tags enabled the team to understand how Giant Ground Pangolin are using remnant pockets of indigenous forest and the impact of the risks on their behaviour. This work is vital as The Pangolin Project has, with this information put together a strategy for protection of the Giant Ground Pangolin and the habitat on which they depend.

Monitoring tagged Giant Ground Pangolin resulted in developing a monitoring and patrol system within the Nyakweri area. Between October 2022 and April 2023, 181 patrols were carried out covering a total of 889Km. These patrols focussed on the monitoring of Giant Ground Pangolin, but a patrol monitoring system also enabled the teams to record additional wildlife seen, to respond to security incidents including snares and to record where indigenous forest was cut and charcoal kilns were placed.

Monitoring work also included recording retrospective reports of sightings and deaths of Giant Ground Pangolin within the Nyakweri Ecosystem – over 80 events were recorded during this time period. The information was critical for understanding the distribution and range extension of the species within the Nyakweri. In addition, a series of community-based meetings and interview enabled the team to understand the threats that this population now face. From this work the team was able to estimate that between 50 – 120 Giant Ground Pangolin individuals were remaining and that the greatest threat to their survival are electric fences, due to individual landowners demarcating their land for cattle grazing or crops.

Continued monitoring and research of ground pangolin has been critical to understanding of populations and their habitat use. This data and information have formed the basis of the strategy of The Pangolin Project.

Awareness, education and training

From March 2022 to April 2023 creating awareness and standardizing knowledge about Pangolin and their protection was a critical if not the most important component of the work in the Nyakweri Ecosystem.

The Pangolin Project carried out a model recruitment process and engaged four Community Based Pangolin Guardians in August 2022 in Nyakweri. These individuals were trained over a 1- week period and then tasked with standardizing knowledge amongst community members about Pangolin, their behaviour and their protection status. The aim of this programme was:

To build awareness and knowledge amongst community members about Giant Ground Pangolin.
To increase real time reports of sightings of live Giant Ground Pangolin.
To increase real time reports of sightings of Giant Ground Pangolins on electric fences;
To reduce the risk of poaching and harm to Giant Ground Pangolin.

A total of 1200 households were visited during the reporting period, and many were repeat visited. Within the reporting period 7 live sightings of Giant Ground Pangolin were responded to and 2 events of Giant Ground Pangolin being caught on electric fences. In both of these events the carcasses were removed, a full postmortem was carried out and the scales were removed and handed to Kenya Wildlife Service where they were kept in a secure vault. This action prevented the scales entering the black market for sales for medicinal formulae. Community members handed over to TPP staff and reported scales that had been found or they had kept. A total of 350 scales were handed to Kenya Wildlife Service in this time period. This is an indicator of the trust that TPP has developed with the community.

One of the additional benefits of this work was building the relationship with the community. The work of the Community Based Pangolin Guardians was critical to the success of monitoring the Giant Ground Pangolin using tracking devices. The team found that they were recognized by the community and that they were willing to work with them as a result of this extensive work.

In addition, from January – October 2022 an extensive training programme was undertaken with conservation partners working in the area including Kenya Wildlife Service, Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, Mara Elephant Project, Mara Conservancies and the police A total of seven successful trainings were completed and were attended by over 121 rangers and law enforcement officers. In addition, an inception meeting was held with partners as the programme began.

Rapid response and rehabilitation

The Pangolin Project assisted in the rehabilitation of 2 Pangolin that were intercepted by police in efforts to reduce trafficking of Pangolin in Kenya. Both individuals were Temmincks Ground

Pangolin. Working with Kenya Wildlife Service, The Pangolin Project deployed personnel and equipment to Nairobi to carry out round the clock care of the two pangolins. They also covered the veterinary expenses of both cases.

One the of the cases died after a 2-week intense rehabilitation period. The individual had a critical leg injury requiring emergency amputation. A post mortem and pathology report concluded that the individual died from Clostridial infection that was likely acquired with the primary injury.

The second case was successfully release into Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Wider Conservation Activities.

The Pangolin Project contributed to the development of a National Action Plan for the Recovery and Protection of Pangolin Species in Kenya. In addition, the organization has become a lead partner in habitat protection in the Nyakweri Ecosystem.

Achievements

The funding from TPP CIO enabled activities to be performed that were the foundation for a programme to protect and conserve the last remaining Giant Ground Pangolin and the habitat on which they depend. The key achievements between April 2022 and March 2023 were:

Research and monitoring.

4 individual Giant Ground Pangolin have been fitted with satellite and VHF tags.
889 km have been covered by the monitoring team within the conservancy areas.
3 camera trap surveys have been carried out using 50 camera traps.; Over 26 species of wildlife identified on camera trap surveys and monitoring patrols within the ecosystem, 4 of which are unique to the Nyakweri Ecosystem.
Methods to estimate the number of Ground Pangolin individuals have bene advanced benefitting the wider conservation of pangolin species.
Behavioural characteristics of pangolins, not previously seen before were captured on camera traps of Giant Ground Pangolin, which included socializing at burrows and cohabiting burrows with other species to name just a few.

Rapid response team activities:

8 sightings of Giant Ground Pangolin individuals (alive) have been responded to resulting in identifying 16 individuals including a number of sub adults.

2 Giant Ground Pangolin individuals on electric fences.
2 individual Giant Ground Pangolin carcasses and 3.5 Kg of Giant Ground Pangolin scales have been recovered by TPP team and taken to Kenya Wildlife Service offices.
2 incidents of Giant Ground Pangolin poaching have been reported to TPP team during the operational year.
Rehabilitation of 2 Temminck’s Ground Pangolin recovered from being poached and the relocation of one Temmincks Ground Pangolin to Maasai Mara National reserve.

Community engagement and awareness

1800 households have been visited within the area at least once;
Development of relationship with communities and landowners that live alongside Giant Ground Pangolin.
Increasing interest and cooperation of the community towards The Pangolin Project activities and conservation.

Habitat and biodiversity protection within the Nyakweri Ecosystem

4 workshops held with 121 rangers and law enforcement officers and a further 6 workshops with community members and local government to standardize knowledge and awareness of Giant Ground Pangolin, threats and protection status.
Development of a National Action Plan for Protection and Recovery of Pangolin in Kenya – contribution of data and information resulted in Giant Ground Pangolin in Nyekweri being now a priority concern for national government.

Financial Review

The Pangolin Project CIO received a total of £75,506 in donations and grants over the period April 2022 – March 2023. £30,000 and £26,495 was received by way of grants from The David Shepherd Wildlife Fund and Tusk Trust Limited respectively. The balance was received by donation.

The charity made two payments to The Pangolin Project in Kenya, totalling £65,875. It had a surplus of £9,215 over the period and total cash funds of £73,724 at the end of the period.

The charity does not currently have a formal reserves policy. The majority of the Charity’s income is in the form of restricted grants obtained following detailed written applications by The Pangolin Project in Kenya. Payments are made by the charity on the basis of reports and projected expenditure by the Project in accordance with those grants. The charity has access to the audited accounts of The Pangolin Project.

The trustees are mindful of the need to maintain reserves. With the expansion of the Kenya project a formal reserves policy is to be implemented.

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity’s governing document is its Constitution.

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

The charity had 5 trustees at the end of the relevant period. New trustees are appointed by resolution of the existing trustees. They are recruited by recommendation, presentation of their interest in Pangolin protection, their knowledge and experience of conservation and consideration of the duties of charity trustees.

The charity receives donations and grants intended by the donors for use by the Pangolin Project in Kenya.

The trustee board meets at least 3 times a year. It receives reports of the strategy, objectives and activities of the Pangolin Project. It considers the budget and accounts. It approves, as appropriate, the requests for funding from the Pangolin Project.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity Name: The Pangolin Project CIO

Registered charity number: 1190187

Charity’s principal address: The Croft

Station Lane

Great Barrow

Chester CH3 7JN

Names of the charity trustees

Katie Abigail Hamilton, Chairperson, appointed for 2 years on 30/06/20 and for a further period of 3 years on 25/05/22

Rowena Margaret Okell, appointed for 3 years on 30/06/20 and for a further period of 1 year on 07/06/23

James Gordon McIntosh, appointed for 1 year on 30/06/20 and for a further period of 3 years on 28/06/21

Gemma Francis, appointed for 3 years on 06/12/22

Daniel Ingram, appointed for 3 years on 06/12/22.

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Katie Abigail Hamilton Date: 26[th] January 2024 Chairperson Rowena Margaret Okell Date: 27th January 2024 Rowena Okell James Gordon McIntosh Date: Gemma Francis Date: Daniel Ingram Date:

Charity Name No (if any) The Pangolin Project CIO 1190187 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/04/2022 31/03/2023

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 19,011 - - 71 - - - - 19,082 - - - 19,082 122 221 144 10,000 - 2,253 - - - 12,740 - - - 12,740 6,342 - 34,882 41,224	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 30,000 26,495 - - - - - 56,495 - - - 56,495 - - - - 27,388 - 26,234 - - 53,622 - - - 53,622 2,873 - 29,627 32,500	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 19,011 30,000 26,495 71 - - - - 75,577 - - - 75,577 122 221 144 10,000 27,388 2,253 26,234 - - 66,362 - - - 66,362 9,215	Last year to the nearest £
Donations	19,011				61,753
David Shepherd Wildlife Fund	-				-
Tusk Trust Limited	-				-
Interest	71				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	19,082				61,753

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					61,753

Bank Charges	122				102
Courier Charges	221				118
Brochure Printing	144				-
06/04/22 Transfer to TPP	10,000				-
06/04/22 Transfer to TPP	-				-
06/01/23 Transfer to TPP	2,253				-
06/01/23 Transfer to TPP	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
**Sub total **	12,740				220

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-
	-
**Sub total **	-				-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					220

	6,342	2,873	-	9,215	61,533
	-	-	-	-	-
	34,882	29,627	-	64,509	-
	41,224	32,500	-	73,724	61,533

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Details None Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) None Brought Forward Details Details None Details None Signature Rowena Okell	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 34,882 29,627 6,342 2,873 - - 41,224 32,500 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Katie Hamilton Rowena Okell	Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 26th January2024 27/01/2024
		Date of approval
	Katie Hamilton	26th January202
Rowena Okell	Rowena Okell	27/01/2024

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees

Charity Name The Pangolin Project CIO

On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages	31 March 2023	Charity no (if any)	1190187

	(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023.

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Date: 28 February 2024

Signed: Name: Mrs D D Lea Relevant professional FCA, FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any):

Oct 2018

IER

Address: CHESTER HOUSE LLOYD DRIVE

CHESHIRE OAKS BUSINESS PARK ELLESMERE PORT CH65 9HQ

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Oct 2018

IER