The article begins by highlighting a recent report that reveals an alarming rise in pangolin poaching in India. Released by the World Wide Fund for Nature-India and TRAFFIC (the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network), the report discloses that between 2018 and 2022, over 1,203 pangolins were illegally poached across 342 seizure incidents spanning 24 states and one Union territory. Odisha reports the highest number of seizure incidents and seized pangolins.
About Pangolins
Pangolins are nocturnal mammals with unique characteristics. Known for their burrowing behaviours, these mammals primarily feed on ants and termites and play an essential role in maintaining ecosystems, especially through soil aeration and moisture retention. Their most distinctive feature is their body entirely covered with keratin scales, which they use as a defence mechanism, rolling into a ball when threatened.
Pangolin Species
Eight pangolin species exist worldwide. Four, including the Black-bellied pangolin, White-bellied pangolin, Giant Ground pangolin, and Temminck’s Ground pangolin, inhabit Africa. The remaining four species – the Indian pangolin, Philippine pangolin, Sunda pangolin, and Chinese pangolin – are found in Asia.
Habitat and Distribution
Pangolins can adapt to a range of habitats, from primary and secondary tropical forests to limestone and bamboo forests, grasslands and agricultural fields. In India, the Indian Pangolin is broadly distributed across the subcontinent, with some regions like Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam also home to the Chinese pangolin.
Threats to Pangolins
Although once found abundantly throughout their ranges, pangolin populations have seen a rapid decline due to relentless habitat loss and unchecked poaching. Pangolins’ skin, scales, and meat are highly sought after, making them one of the most trafficked wild mammals globally. They are primarily traded in Asia, where their scales are wrongly believed to possess medicinal properties and their meat considered a delicacy.
Protection Status
Given their precarious existence, pangolins have been classified as endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. The Chinese pangolin, in particular, is listed as “critically endangered”. Indian laws, through the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, provide strict protection to both Indian and Chinese pangolins, prohibiting hunting, trade or any other form of exploitation. On an international level, all pangolin species are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The article concludes by mentioning a question asked in the 2021 UPSC Civil Services Examination about the defence mechanisms of animals, including the pangolin. The answer was that both the hedgehog and pangolin roll up to protect their vulnerable parts from predators.
