PANGOLIN

Environment & Ecology


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 10-Oct-2024

About

  • Pangolins are nocturnal mammals that dig burrows and feed on ants and termites, and play a vital role in ecosystem management, mostly in aerating and adding moisture to the soil.
  • Pangolins are known for their unique appearance. They have scales made of keratin that cover their entire body.
    • When threatened, they can roll into a ball to protect themselves.
  • All pangolin species are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix I.
  • Habitat
    • It is adaptable to a wide range of habitats including primary and secondary tropical forests, limestone and bamboo forests, grasslands and agricultural fields.
    • The Indian Pangolin is found across the Indian subcontinent; Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam also have the presence of Chinese pangolin.
  • There are eight species of pangolin
Pangolin Species IUCN Status Geographical Extent Image
Temminck's Pangolin Vulnerable (VU) Angola, Botswana; Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia; Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, United Republic of Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Sunda Pangolin Critically Endangered (CR) Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam
White-bellied Pangolin Endangered (EN) Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland), Bioko), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, United Republic of, Togo, Uganda, Zambia
Giant Ground Pangolin Endangered (EN) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland)), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, United Republic of, Uganda.
Philippine Pangolin Critically endangered (CR) Philippines
Indian Pangolin Endangered (EN) Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Chinese Pangolin Critically Endangered (CR) Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand, Viet Nam.
Black-bellied Pangolin Vulnerable (VU) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland)), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone

NOCTURNAL MAMMALS

  • Nocturnal mammals are animals that are primarily active during the night and rest during the day.
  • They have adapted to night-time activity with specialized features such as enhanced senses of sight, hearing, and smell, which help them navigate, hunt, and avoid predators in low-light conditions.
  • Examples of nocturnal mammals include
    • Bats: Rely on echolocation to find insects at night.
    • Owls: Have excellent night vision and hearing for hunting.
    • Pangolins: Feeds on ants and termites during nighttime hours.
    • Hedgehogs: Forage for insects, plants, and small animals after dark.

CITES APPENDIX I

  • It is a list of species that are considered the most endangered among those protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
  • Species included in this appendix are at risk of extinction, and international trade in these species is only permitted in exceptional circumstances, such as for scientific research, and even then, it is highly regulated.
  • Aim: To ensure that endangered species are safeguarded from extinction by reducing international trade pressures.

Key features

  • Protection Level: These species receive the highest level of protection under CITES.
  • Trade Restrictions: Commercial international trade of species listed in Appendix I is generally prohibited, with exceptions requiring special permits for non-commercial purposes (e.g., scientific research).
  • Species Examples
    • Pangolins: All species of pangolins are listed due to the threat of poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
    • Tigers: Tigers are listed to prevent their parts from being traded in the global market.
    • Giant Pandas: Listed to protect them from habitat loss and illegal hunting.