Pangolin: Adorable but Endangered

FEATURE ARTICLE Pangolin: Adorable but Endangered

Shubhada Kapil

ANGOLINS are often mistaken as reptiles, but they are actually scaly-skinned mammals. When in danger, P the pangolin can roll into a ball, exposing only its tough scales for protection. Pangolins are the world’s only truly scaly mammals in the world to be covered from head to toe in keratin scales. These scales account for up to 20% of a Pangolin’s entire weight. Despite their uniqueness, we do not know a lot about them. We know that they are characteristically shy, solitary and primarily nocturnal. Of the eight extant species, four occur in sub-Saharan Africa and four inhabit parts of Asia, from Pakistan to China and the Philippines. In recent years, 80% of pangolin scales confiscated from the global black market are from African animals But today, given the demand for their meat and scales, (Credit: TRAFFIC) pangolin populations are believed to be on the decline.

Most Trafficked Mammal Pangolins certainly are one of the most trafficked mammals in Asia and, increasingly, Africa. They are in high demand in countries like China and Vietnam. Their meat is considered a delicacy and pangolin scales are used in traditional medicine and folk remedies to treat a range of ailments from asthma to rheumatism and arthritis. All eight pangolin species are protected under national and international laws but that is not stopping the massive international illegal trade in pangolins, which has increased Pangolin scales have been used in traditional Asian medicine in recent years because of growing demand. It is reported that for centuries but today the demand for pangolin products is between 2011 and 2013, an estimated 116,990-233,980 pangolins driving these creatures to extinction (Credit: TRAFFIC) were killed. Experts believe that this represents as little as 10% of the actual volume in pangolins in illegal wildlife trade.

March 2019 | Science Reporter | 29 Pangolin Facts

 The name Pangolin is derived from the Malay word ‘pengguling’, which means ‘rolling up’. This refers to the animal’s defence mechanism of rolling up into a tight little hardened ball when threatened.  Like a skunk, pangolins can release a noxious-smelling acid to deter predators.  Pangolins have a long sticky tongue that grows from deep inside their chest cavity and can extend to over 40cm, which is longer than its own body! This tongue is a perfect tool for catching insects. One pangolin is estimated to catch a massive 70 million a year.  With no teeth, and unable to chew, the insects are broken up by stones and keratin spines located inside their stomach.  It is unknown how long pangolins live because captivity is traumatic for pangolins resulting in stress, depression and early death. However, the oldest recorded pangolin in captivity died at 19 years old.  They are nocturnal, solitary animals with very poor eyesight. Their sense of smell and sound is supreme and is used to hunt out termite mounds and ant hills.  Cute pangolin pups hitch a ride on their mother’s tails for three months and remain in their mother’s care for five months before braving life solo.  Pangolins are increasingly becoming victims of illegal wildlife crime due to their meat and scales.  Eight species of pangolins are found on two continents. They range from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.  Four species live in Africa: Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), Giant Ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) and Temminck’s Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii).  The four species found in Asia: Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis), Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) and the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla).  All eight pangolin species are protected under national and international laws, and two are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Critically endangered Sunda pangolin

When threatened, the pan- golin rolls itself into a ball (Credit: Zoological Society London)

Pangolins have been consumed by humans throughout for the manufacture and retail of leather goods including belts, history. The Bornean Giant pangolin (Manis paleojavanica) boots and handbags. went extinct about 40,000 years ago, likely as a result of This exploitation has occurred despite measures designed overexploitation following the arrival of humans. Estimates to protect pangolins. For example, the Sunda pangolin (Manis from China suggest populations there have been reduced by javanica) received protection under Indonesian legislation 94% since the 1960s. as early as 1931. Similarly, Asian pangolins were listed in Pangolin meat is still eaten as a local source of protein CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered across Africa and Asia. Pangolin scales have been used for Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix II in 1975, endless applications, in particular as an ingredient in traditional meaning international commercial trade in the species was Asian medicine to purportedly treat a variety of ailments. permitted only where it was not detrimental to wild populations. Pangolin skins were also traded in the hundreds of thousands However, large volumes of trade in skins and scales took place between the 1970s and 1990s, primarily to the US and Mexico, in subsequent decades.

30 | Science Reporter | March 2019 Saving the Pangolin Some initiatives are being taken for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of Pangolins.

 WWF Initiatives: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), together with TRAFFIC (a leading NGO working globally for the protection of wild animals), is working in Asia and Africa to protect pangolins and other species from wildlife crime. They are actively trying to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products in countries like China and Vietnam. • Carnivore & Pangolins Conservation Program: The Program is operated and managed through a collaborative partnership between “Cuc Phuong National Park”  Pangolin Conservation Breeding Centre in and “Save Vietnam’s Wildlife” and is recognised globally India: The Nandankanan Zoological Park (NKZP) in India as a world leader in pangolin research and captive care. has been maintaining and breeding Indian pangolins in captivity for the last few years. Its Pangolin Conservation Breeding Centre (PCBC) was established in 2008 to develop appropriate methodologies for captive management and breeding of the Indian pangolin, with financial support from India’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA). So far, research here has focused on the development of protocols for general husbandry, veterinary care and breeding Indian pangolins. Behavioural monitoring has also been undertaken using infrared closed circuit televisions cameras to understand the animals’ nocturnal behaviour, utilisation of space and their response towards different types of environmental enrichment.

Save Vietnam’s Wildlife reintroduces a Sunda Pangolin to the wild. (Credit: Nguyen Van Thai / SVW)

• Tikki Hywood Trust: The Tikki Hywood Trust in Zimbabwe is handling from rescue to rehabilitation and release of the most number of Ground Pangolins in the world.

Pangolins are housed in naturalistic enclosures with red laterite soil (www.pangolinsg.org) There is a need to work with local communities and indigenous peoples that live alongside pangolins to help secure populations. Trying to change the way customers behave in donatetowildlifeconservation.com order to reduce demand for wildlife products is a relatively • Cambodian Pangolin Rehabilitation Center: It is an new concept in conservation, and determining how to actually initiative in Cambodia to bolster conservation efforts change consumer behaviour away from specific wildlife for Pangolins. It was established to rehabilitate injured products is challenging. pangolins rescued from hunters throughout Cambodia. The center also aims to raise awareness of the plight of Ms Shubhada Kapil, Assistant Editor, Vigyan Pragati, CSIR- the pangolin. NISCAIR, New Delhi

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