Context:

• Pangolin found wandering on Noida roads rescued
• In India, hunting and poaching can invite prison time up to 7 years since it involves maximum protection under the section of the Wildlife Act.
• The pangolin or scaled anteater is a highly trafficked mammal and is estimated to have a value of Rs 2-3 crore in the illegal market.
• In China, pangolins scales have been used for medicinal purposes for several years but the practice was recently banned.

Pangolins in India

• Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are found in India.
• Indian Pangolin is a large anteater covered by 11-13 rows of scales on the back.
• A terminal scale is also present on the lower side of the tail of the Indian Pangolin, which is absent in the Chinese Pangolin.

Habitat

Indian Pangolin

• Widely distributed in India, except the arid region, high Himalayas and the North-East. The species is also found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Chinese Pangolin

• Found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China.

Threats to Pangolins in India:

Hunting and poaching for use as a protein source and traditional medicine and international trade for its meat and scales in East and South East Asian countries, particularly China and Vietnam.

Protection Status

IUCN Red List

• Indian Pangolin: Endangered
• Chinese Pangolin: Critically Endangered
• Both these species are listed under Schedule I, Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/pangolin-found-wandering-on-noida-roads-rescued-7432752/

Download PDF