The Pangolin and the Chief's Judgment

A Pangolin was brought before a chief, accused of stealing from a farmer's field. The farmer was furious and demanded the creature be killed. The chief, who was wise, looked at the Pangolin, which had curled itself into a tight, armored ball. "This creature has no weapons," the chief said. "It does not bite or claw. Its only defense is to hide itself from the world. How can such a creature be a great thief?" The chief ordered his men to watch the Pangolin. They saw that it ate only ants and termites, and never touched the farmer's crops. The chief realized the farmer had accused the wrong animal. He then declared the Pangolin a royal and protected animal. "This creature is a symbol of peace and humility," the chief announced. "It curls up to protect itself from a violent world. We will not harm it." To this day, in Shona tradition, finding a pangolin is a sign of great fortune, and it must be brought to the local chief as a royal tribute, for it is a sacred animal that represents harmlessness and defensive wisdom.