The only thing missing were the pangolins. The people were there, festive in spirit and generous in giving. The music played. Repast served and enjoyed. The singer sang. The heartfelt poem heard. The plight of the pangolin rendered. But if pangolins were around, we would have had a celebration of prancing pangolins - a pango doing the tango? Pangolins going hurray. Why not? Their chances of survival now shine a little brighter because organiser Cicada Tree Eco-Place (CTEP), with supporters Vertebrate Study Group (NSS), Nature's Niche Pte Ltd and ACRES, achieved their aim to raise sufficient funds for TRAFFIC to hire an officer to enforce anti-pangolin poaching laws and to do research on pangolins. The pangolins need this. Like so many rare and exotic mammals, someone got the bright idea that chomping on pangolin meat and scales would make them live forever. Sooner or later they will find out how wrong they were, but meanwhile pangolins are losing their lives to feed this folly. With an officer's presence, though, acting as researcher, monitor, and programme developer, pangolins have a better chance of protection - and preservation.

The fundraiser at HortPark was a simply laid out affair. White table cloths lost their pristine look with a cluster of flora craftily assembled by CTEP's home team. A chunky concrete floor was unseen being trod on by throngs of colorfully clad groups chattering and laughing around the exhibits. There was no need for glitz or the Ritz. The evening was bright with the harmony of persons happy and interested in giving their hearts and support to save the pangolin.