Palawan Pangolin
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PALAWAN PANGOLIN (Manis culionensis) CONSERVATION STRATEGY 2018-2043 PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STAFF IUCN SSC PANGOLIN SPECIALIST GROUP KATALA FOUNDATION INCORPORATED ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON PALAWAN PANGOLIN (Manis culionensis) CONSERVATION STRATEGY 2018-2043 PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STAFF IUCN SSC PANGOLIN SPECIALIST GROUP KATALA FOUNDATION INCORPORATED ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON Published by: Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, Katala Foundation Incorporated, Contributors: Rafael Abaa, Diverlie Acosta, Benjamin Adriano, Archie Acknowledgements: Zoological Society of London Alajar, Dexter Alvarado, Lucy Archer, Carmela Ariza, Gerardo Austria, Thank you to the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund Anchovy Barros, Ruben Cabajar, Napoleon Caballero, Francis Cabana, and an anonymous donor for providing support which enabled the Copyright: Danny Cabiguen, Lea Camangeg, Dan Challender, Rob Contractor, development of this strategy. A special thanks to Sabine Schoppe and © 2020 International Union for Conservation of Nature Joel Custodio, Jeric Dejucos, Ciara Dicar, John Vincent Fabello, Jessa Lydia Katsis for completing the status review. Belle Garibay, Salvador Guion, Cherry Lyn Jalover-Par, Romeo Japson, Citation: Sheilla Jungco, Lydia Katsis, Armina La Torre, Glenn Labrado, Levita Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, IUCN SSC Lagrada, Paige Lee, Edward Lorenzo, Glenn Maguad, Alma Mansueto, Pangolin Specialist Group, Katala Foundation Incorporated, Karthi Martelli, Maria Victoria Matillano, Grizelda Mayo-Anda, Anna Mae Zoological Society of London. Palawan Pangolin Conservation Mendoza, Arnica Mortillero, Helen O’Neill, Jurgenne Primavera, Richard Strategy. IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, c/o Zoological Rodriquez, John Mart Salunday, Sabine Schoppe, Emerson Sy, Jeanne Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK. Tabangay, Florentino Tesoro, Jan Ricci Villapa, Godof Villapando, Adelina Villena, Randy Vinluan, Carly Waterman and Gilbert Yara. Cover photo credit: Roger Dolorosa Layout by: Kate Saker – katesaker.com Funded by: The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund Compiled and edited by: Sabine Schoppe, Levita Lagrada, Godof Villapando, Glenn Labrado, Dan Challender , Carly Waterman and Lydia Katsis. 2 3 About IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 13,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. Palawan pangolin © Lucy Archer. 5 Contents Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff Katala Foundation Incorporated 8 Foreword 35 2.11 Conservation context The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff For the past 20 years, Katala Foundation Incorporated, 10 Acronyms and Abbreviations 35 2.11.1 International legal (PCSDS) is a locally based national agency created by a non-profit, non-stock, non-governmental organization status national law, Republic Act No. 7611, otherwise known has been active in protecting and conserving wildlife, 13 1. Introduction 35 2.11.2 National legal status as the Strategic Environment Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act. particularly the Philippine cockatoo, the Palawan forest 17 2. Status Review 38 2.12 Threats, drivers of threats, It is mandated to serve as the regular professional staff turtle, the Palawan pangolin and other highly threatened 18 2.1 Taxonomy and management and constraints of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development wildlife in Southeast Asia, but particularly in Palawan, units 39 2.12.1 Poaching (PCSD) and to provide the machinery to coordinate the Philippines. KFI´s Palawan Pangolin Conservation 18 2.2 Historical account 39 2.12.2 Subsistence and policy and functions, implement programs, and organize Program (PPCP) has sought to understand and address 19 2.3 Present distribution traditional use such services as may be required by the PCSD for the the conservation needs of the Palawan pangolin since development, conservation, management and protection 2008. 20 2.4 Species biology 40 2.12.3 International and of the natural resources of Palawan for the present and 20 2.4.1 Current numbers national trade future generations. Zoological Society of London 21 2.4.2 Population trends 42 2.12.4 Habitat loss Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London is 22 2.4.3 Population density 42 2.12.5 Lack of knowledge IUCN Species Survival Commission an international conservation charity, whose vision is a estimates The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest world where wildlife thrives. We’re working every day to 23 2.5 Population dynamics 43 3. Conservation Strategy of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a global achieve this, through our science, our field conservation 23 2.5.1 Fecundity 46 3.1 Vision and goals membership of 9,000 experts. SSC advises IUCN around the world and engaging millions of people 23 2.5.2 Mortality rates and 46 3.2 Objectives and actions and its members on the wide range of technical and through our two zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL causes scientific aspects of species conservation and is Whipsnade Zoo. 25 2.6 Life history and ecological 47 GOAL 1: Habitat destruction and loss dedicated to securing a future for biodiversity. SSC role have been arrested has significant input into the international agreements Established in 2010, ZSL Philippines supports 26 2.6.1 Habitat selection 51 GOAL 2: Overexploitation of the dealing with biodiversity conservation. www.iucn.org/ mangrove rehabilitation, Marine Protected Area (MPA) 27 2.6.2 Mobility Palawan pangolin has been themes/ssc establishment and management, and sustainable 29 2.6.3 Dispersal significantly reduced livelihoods for local communities. Its species-focused 29 2.6.4 Diet and nutrition 54 GOAL 3: The ecology, biology and IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group projects include seahorses, freshwater eels and, most 30 2.6.5 Social behavior conservation needs of The Pangolin Specialist Group (Pangolin SG) is recently, the Palawan pangolin. voluntary network of experts from around the world 30 2.6.6 Reproductive behavior the Palawan pangolin are including field biologists, social scientists, zoologists, 31 2.7 Disease understood through scientific veterinarians, ecologists and geneticists, all of 32 2.8 Genetics research and using local whom are actively involved in pangolin research and 32 2.9 Values ecological knowledge conservation. The Pangolin SG serves as an advisory 32 2.9.1 Medicinal 57 GOAL 4: Indigenous Peoples and local body to IUCN, assesses the conservation status 33 2.9.2 Traditional/cultural communities are empowered to of pangolins for The IUCN Red List of Threatened 33 2.9.3 Subsistence conserve the Palawan pangolin. SpeciesTM, contributes scientific and technical input 33 2.9.4 Pets to CITES, convenes stakeholders to develop species 34 2.9.5 National pride 59. 4. References conservation strategies, and provides technical advice 34 2.10 Climate change on pangolin research and conservation. 6 7 Foreword Foreword The Indigenous Peoples of Palawan are sincerely Therefore, as part of the National Pangolin Workshop, Palawan is known for its rich biodiversity and has thankful for the National Pangolin Workshop that was we, the Indigenous Peoples are thankful to the PCSDS, for decades served as a good research platform for held at the Legend Hotel, Palawan on April 11-13, the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, KFI, ZSL and local and international researchers and scientists. 2018. It was an honour for all the Indigenous Peoples other organisations for organizing this workshop. I hope While numerous research studies have already been present to participate in the workshop, and we are that these organisation will contribute to saving the conducted focusing on Palawan’s flora and fauna, only grateful that there are organisations that support the Palawan pangolin and other wildlife in Palawan. a few tackle the Palawan pangolin. protection of wildlife in Palawan, especially those that are most threatened and are endemic. On behalf of the Indigenous Peoples of Palawan I am In recent years, the Palawan pangolin has become very grateful and thankful to you all. one of the most heavily trafficked species in Palawan. Our lives as Indigenous Peoples are dependent on the There have been substantial decreases in sightings forest and the wildlife, which we use on a daily basis.