One million pangolins have been snatched from the wild in the last decade, making it the most illegally traded mammal on earth. The pangolin is the world’s only scaly mammal. It has an extremely important ecological role of regulating insect populations. It’s known for rolling up into an armor-plated ball when under attack and warding off all natural predators, all except for poachers, who simply pick it up and take it to the market. Although the pangolin is a fascinating creature it is not attracting as much public attention as tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants or other illegally traded wildlife. It is crucial to increase public awareness of the plight of the pangolin before it disappears forever.

Every day, Google reaches billions of people, and is often able to educate the public about historical figures, social issues and sporting events through the Google Doodles on its homepage. I am asking them to help teach the world about another important issue: the fight to keep one of the world’s most endangered animals from disappearing.

The next World Pangolin Day is February 20, 2016. Will you join me in asking Google to do its part to help increase awareness for the Pangolin by creating a Google Doodle for World Pangolin Day?

All eight pangolin species are now threatened with extinction. The Chinese and Sunda pangolins have seen declines of nearly 80% in the last few decades. Despite a commercial trade ban for wild-caught pangolins in Asia, the illegal trade is thriving. Consumers are willing to pay increasingly high prices for their meat, which is considered a luxury food in the East. Their scales are also used in traditional Asian medicines to "cure" anything from acne to cancer, despite the fact that scientific studies have proven that the scales are void of any medicinal or curative properties.

This animal has roamed the Earth for 80 million years, yet if we don't take action, it will become extinct in a few years. As Prince William stated, "The pangolin runs the risk of becoming extinct before most people have even heard of them." Let's increase awareness of this awesome creature so that doesn’t happen! Please join me in asking Google to create a Pangolin doodle for World Pangolin Day.