REGIONAL SUNDA PANGOLIN (Manis javanica) CONSERVATION STRATEGY 2018-2028 IUCN SSC PANGOLIN SPECIALIST GROUP IUCN SSC ASIAN SPECIES ACTION PARTNERSHIP WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE IUCN SSC CONSERVATION PLANNING SPECIALIST GROUP REGIONAL SUNDA PANGOLIN (Manis javanica) CONSERVATION STRATEGY 2018-2028
Published by: Contributors: Dwi Adhiasto, Francis Cabana, Clare Campbell, Dan Acknowledgements: IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN SSC Asian Species Challender, Lena Chan, Nerissa Chao, Shavez Cheema, Yi Hsuan Sincere thanks are extended to all the individuals and organisations Action Partnership, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, and IUCN SSC Chen, Ju lian Chong, Marcus Chua, Yi Fei Chung, Brian Crudge, that made the development of this conservation strategy possible. Conservation Planning Specialist Group Eleanora De Guzman, Louise Fletcher, Lalita Gomez, Thomas Gray, This includes the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund Sarah Heinrich, Chia-Da Hsu, Flora Hsuan-Yi Lo, Ade Kurniwan, Tin for generously providing signi cant funds to hold the workshop at Copyright: Zar Kywe, Quyet Le, Benjamin Lee, Paige Lee, Caroline Lees, Tzi which this strategy was developed, and all the individual donors to © 2018 International Union for Conservation of Nature Ming Leong, Lishu Li, Norman Lim, Sonja Luz, Karthi Martelli, Helen the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group which allowed it to part fund Nash, Dung Nguyen, Hiep Nguyen, Thai Van Nguyen, Alegria Olmedo, the workshop. Thanks are extended to Wildlife Reserves Singapore Citation: Annette Olsson, Elisa Panjang, Keri Parker, Roopali Raghavan, for hosting the workshop to develop this strategy and Dr. Sonja Luz IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, IUCN SSC Asian Species Madhu Rao, Madelon Rusman, Adeline Seah, Gono Semiadi, Chris and her team for ensuring the workshop ran smoothly. Many thanks Action Partnership, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, IUCN SSC Shepherd, Withoon Sodsai, Peov Somanak, Ching-Min Sun, Warisara are extended to all participants of the workshop for their hard work, Conservation Planning Specialist Group. Regional Sunda Pangolin Thomas, Paul Thomson, Carly Waterman, Daniel Willcox, Madelon and to the individuals and governments that commented, provided (Manis javanica) Conservation Strategy 2018-2028. IUCN SSC Willemsen and Shi Bao Wu. feedback and reviewed this strategy after the workshop to ensure it is Pangolin Specialist Group, ℅ Zoological Society of London, Regent’s as accurate, appropriate, and up to date as possible. A special thanks Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK. Review process: is owed to Daniel Willcox for leading on the development of the status Sunda pangolin range state government representatives participated review that informed both the workshop and this strategy. Cover photo credit: in the workshop in which this strategy was developed. Following Wildlife Reserves Singapore compilation of the strategy all workshop participants had the opportunity to review it to ensure it accurately re ects the objectives Layout by: and actions agreed upon that are needed to conserve the Sunda Kate Saker – katesaker.com pangolin in the period 2018-2028.
Funded by: Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund, IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group.
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 ll 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.
Sunda pangolin in leaf litter. © Laura Benedict.
5 Contents
IUCN Species Survival Commission connections and increases visibility of efforts targeting 8 Acronyms and Abbreviations The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest ASAP species recovery, providing a platform for 9 Foreword of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a global collective impact and collaboration to conserve species 10 Executive summary membership of 6,000 experts. SSC advises IUCN on the brink of extinction. and its members on the wide range of technical and 13 1. Introduction scienti c aspects of species conservation and is Wildlife Reserves Singapore 17 2. Status Review dedicated to securing a future for biodiversity. SSC Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is dedicated to the 18 2.1 Taxonomy has signi cant input into the international agreements management of world-leading zoological institutions— 19 2.2 Historical account dealing with biodiversity conservation. www.iucn.org/ Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and 22 2.3 Present distribution themes/ssc Singapore Zoo—that aim to inspire people to value and conserve biodiversity by providing meaningful and 29 2.4 Protection status IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group memorable wildlife experiences. 31 2.5 Species biology The Pangolin Specialist Group (Pangolin SG) is 31 2.5.1 Current numbers voluntary network of experts from around the world A self-funded organisation, WRS focuses on protecting 32 2.5.2 Population dynamics including eld biologists, social scientists, zoologists, biodiversity in Singapore and Southeast Asia through 33 2.5.3 Life history and ecological role veterinarians, ecologists and geneticists, all of collaborations with like-minded partners, organisations 34 2.5.4 Disease whom are actively involved in pangolin research and and institutions. Each year, the four attractions welcome 35 2.5.5 Genetics conservation. The Pangolin SG serves as an advisory 5 million visitors. 36 2.6 Values body to IUCN, assesses the conservation status 38 2.7 Conservation planning to date of pangolins for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Mandai Park Holdings (MPH), the driving force behind 39 2.8 Threats and their drivers SpeciesTM, contributes scienti c and technical input the rejuvenation of Mandai into an integrated wildlife and 39 2.8.1 Poaching to CITES, convenes stakeholders to develop species nature heritage space, is the holding company of WRS 45 2.8.2 Habitat loss and degradation conservation strategies, and provides technical advice and oversees its business and strategic development. 46 2.8.3 Inadequate conservation action on pangolin research and conservation. 47 3. Conservation Strategy and Action Plan IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group 51 3.1 Vision and Goals IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Partnership The IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist 51 3.2 Objectives and Actions The Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) Group (CPSG) is a global network of conservation champions conservation action for Southeast Asia’s professionals dedicated to saving threatened species most threatened species. It focuses attention on by increasing the effectiveness of conservation efforts 51 GOAL 1: Change consumer behaviour to reduce demand for pangolin parts and products. a critical region that, without urgent conservation worldwide. For over 30 years, CPSG has accomplished 53 GOAL 2: Combat illegal trade by strengthening policy and law enforcement. intervention, will lose much of its unique and rich this using scienti cally sound, collaborative planning 56 GOAL 3: Engage local communities to participate in conservation processes. biodiversity. ASAP is a coalition of organisations processes that bring together people with diverse 57 GOAL 4: Identify and protect areas with important pangolin populations. committed to averting extinctions of Critically perspectives and knowledge to catalyse positive 58 GOAL 5: Conduct research to gain a beer understanding of Sunda pangolin ecology Endangered land and freshwater vertebrates in conservation change. CPSG provides species and behaviour. Southeast Asia. Convened by IUCN SSC, ASAP conservation planning expertise to governments, other 59 GOAL 6: Establish successful systems for rescue, rehabilitation and release of pangolins. mobilises resources, builds capacity, provides SSC Specialist Groups, zoos and aquariums, and other bespoke support and steers attention towards wildlife organisations. 61 4. References neglected species. As a growing network, ASAP builds
6 7 Acronyms and Foreword Abbreviations
ASAP Asian Species Action Partnership Jon Paul Rodríguez, two major objectives: it compiled new data to update EIA Environmental Investigation Agency Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission the Red List assessment of the species (assess), and CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora During the 17th Conference of the Parties of the set the stage for national action plans that will guide CPSG Conservation Planning Specialist Group Convention on International Trade in Endangered implementation (plan). The key outcome of such plans is ENV Education for Nature Vietnam Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) a prioritized set of activities, their anticipated costs and FFI Fauna and Flora International (Johannesburg, 2016) pangolins were the avour of bene ts, that can then be submitted for consideration IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature the month. There were people in pangolin costumes by potential donors (e.g. governments, bi- and multi- IUCN CEESP/SSC SULi Commission on Environment, Economic and Social Policy/Species Survival walking around, pangolin lapel pins and stickers given lateral organisations, and foundations) to trigger Commission Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group out, remote-controlled pangolins scurrying among the implementation (act). During 2017-2020, supporting LIPI Indonesian Institute of Sciences delegates, stuffed baby pangolins to take back home to the capacity of specialist groups to perform Red List NGO Non-governmental Organisation one’s children. It was impossible not to become aware assessments, substantially expanding conservation Pangolin SG IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group of the urgent conservation need of the eight species planning efforts, and catalysing conservation action are RST Review of Signi cant Trade process of pangolin. The effort paid off, when CoP17 decided top priorities for the SSC. SSC Species Survival Commission to transfer all pangolins from Appendix II to Appendix sWEFCOM south-eastern Western Forest Complex I, establishing a total ban on international trade in The distinctive feature of this Regional Conservation TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine wild caught pangolins for commercial purposes. The Strategy for the Sunda pangolin is the collaboration TVM Traditional Vietnamese Medicine decision lls an important gap, launching much-needed, among three SSC groups – the Pangolin Specialist WCS Wildlife Conservation Society and practically non-existent, global conservation Group, Conservation Planning Specialist Group, and WRS Wildlife Reserves Singapore attention on this highly threatened animal group. Asian Species Action Partnership – and one SSC WRSCF Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund partner, Wildlife Reserves Singapore. We envision that WWF World Wildlife Fund The Sunda pangolin is listed as Critically Endangered, this type of inclusive, participatory model will become USAID United States Agency for International Development primarily due to overexploitation for its meat and scales. the standard in SSC’s assess-plan-act approach. ZSL Zoological Society of London Placing a species on The IUCN Red List of Threatened It is the best way to bring together all the relevant Species is the rst step of what the IUCN Species stakeholders, for it is cost effective, as it avoids the Survival Commission recognizes as the assess-plan-act need to convene successive sessions to address the continuum. Once extinction risk has been determined, details that a complex process such as a conservation threats and conservation actions are established, strategy requires. I congratulate everyone involved and a species account is published on-line, we then for their hard work and creativity, and look forward to move to the second stage of planning the necessary seeing all the priorities achieved in the future. Saving steps to address the drivers of population decline and pangolins from extinction is our ultimate goal. reverse the trend. The workshop to develop a regional conservation strategy for the Sunda pangolin achieved
8 9 Executive summary
The Sunda pangolin Manis javanica is one of eight extant species of Characteristic of pangolins, the species is covered them greater attention, pro le and funding. However, to pangolin (Pholidota: Manidae) and is native to mainland and western in hard, overlapping scales comprised of keratin. ensure that limited conservation funding is used most island Southeast Asia. It occupies a variety of habitats from primary and wisely on Sunda pangolin conservation, it is important secondary tropical forest to arti cial landscapes and that strategies are developed that articulate what the cultivated areas, though its ability to persist (and breed) most urgent actions are, when and where they need in arti cial habitats requires further research. It is solitary to be implemented, and by which stakeholders. While and principally nocturnal. Being semi-arboreal, it is an there have been a number of action planning events adept climber and has impressive core strength, making for pangolins in the last decade, mainly in Southeast use of its prehensile tail when climbing and foraging Asia, and recommendations formulated have been for prey in trees. Being myrmecophagous, it predates implemented, there remains a lack of co-ordinated almost exclusively on ants and termites. conservation strategies to guide conservation of the species over the next decade and beyond. Listed as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM on the basis of past, ongoing In order to meet this need, the IUCN SSC Pangolin and future population reductions, the Sunda pangolin Specialist Group, Conservation Planning Specialist is primarily, and directly, threatened by overexploitation Group, Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) and for international use. This involves the traf cking of high Wildlife Reserves Singapore, held a workshop at Wildlife numbers of live and dead individuals and parts and Reserves Singapore on 28-30th June 2017, in order derivatives, in particular meat and scales. Local use also to develop this Regional Conservation Strategy for the appears to pose a threat. Over the past two decades, Sunda pangolin 2018-2028. It brought together 53 it has been the species of pangolin most frequently participants from 16 countries and included government seized in illegal trade, and much of the traf cking by representatives, conservation scientists, practitioners volume is destined for China and Vietnam. The meat is and zoo professionals. Using IUCN’s One Plan eaten as a luxury dish in high-end urban restaurants in Approach, participants formulated a 25 year vision, a both countries and the scales are used as an ingredient number of goals and objectives, and a range of actions in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Traditional designed to conserve Sunda pangolins over the next Vietnamese Medicine (TVM) to purportedly treat a variety decade. The objectives and actions formulated were of ailments. Indirect threats include habitat loss and also cross-referenced with previous recommendations degradation, which open up previously inaccessible and actions in order to ensure complementarity with areas to poaching, and inadequate conservation action. existing action plans. All of these threats are negatively affecting the viability of wild Sunda pangolin populations.
Pangolins have received little conservation attention historically but this has changed in the last ve years. The large scale traf cking of the species has afforded
Sunda pangolin in forest habitat. © Laura Benedict.
10 11 Introduction Vision: The Sunda Pangolin is 3. Engage local communities to participate in conservation processes, including ensuring that 1. secure and thriving in a variety local communities and indigenous peoples are active of habitats across its entire partners in Sunda pangolin conservation and prevent range. Threats have been abated poaching at the site level through locally appropriate and research has provided a community-centred interventions. beer understanding of this 4. Identify and protect areas with important unique species, which is locally pangolin populations, by identifying sites important and globally appreciated. for conservation of the Sunda pangolin, and increasing the likelihood of detection of poachers at sites identi ed as suitable for conservation intervention. Goals: The goals provide broad operational themes for 5. Conduct research to gain a better conservation activity over the understanding of Sunda pangolin ecology and next 10 years and beyond and for behaviour, in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of Sunda pangolin biology, ecology each goal a number of objectives and behaviour and to improve monitoring of Sunda were formulated. The goals and pangolin populations. objectives are presented below and details of specific actions 6. Establish successful systems for rescue, rehabilitation and release of pangolins, in can be found in this document: order to increase capacity and coordination of rescue, rehabilitation and release of trade- 1. Change consumer behaviour to reduce demand con scated pangolins. for pangolin parts and products, including reducing consumer demand for pangolin products This strategy does not have dedicated resources and its and reducing supply-side in uence on consumer implementation is incumbent on funding being secured demand. to implement the agreed actions. Implementation of this strategy will be monitored by the Pangolin Specialist 2. Combatting illegal trade by strengthening Group and the results updated on its website policy and law enforcement, including through (www.pangolinsg.org). reviewing and where necessary strengthening legislation affording protection to pangolins, ensuring that combatting illegal trade in pangolins remains a high priority in international fora, and engaging with key actors (e.g., the transport sector) to reduce traf cking. Sunda pangolin in Singapore. © Wildlife Reserves Singapore
12 13 1. Introduction
The Sunda pangolin Manis polygynous, with the home range of a male overlapping that of several females (Sun, N., pers. comm. 2018). javanica is one of eight extant Like other pangolins, a single young is born at parturition species of pangolin and is native after a gestation period of approximately six months to mainland Southeast Asia and and maternal care lasts for about 3-4 months (Lim and surrounding islands, and island Ng, 2007; Zhang et al., 2015). Research suggests that breeding is aseasonal (Zhang et al., 2015). Southeast Asia west of Sulawesi. The Sunda pangolin is listed as Critically Endangered The species geographic distribution extends from on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species on the central Myanmar, to large parts of Thailand, lowland basis of past, ongoing and future population reductions Lao PDR, central and southern Vietnam and Cambodia based on actual or potential levels of exploitation (Red to Peninsular Malaysia (Challender et al., 2014a; List criteria A2d+3d+4d; Challender et al., 2014a). At Corbet and Hill, 1992). It also occurs in Singapore and CITES CoP17 (Johannesburg, 2016), and with the surrounding islands, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java and other seven species of pangolin, it was transferred adjacent islands) and on Borneo (Malaysia, Indonesia from Appendix II to Appendix I, bringing about an and Brunei Darussalam) and surrounding islands. international trade ban in wild-caught pangolins and Wu et al. (2005) report that the species occurs in their parts traded for commercial purposes. Sunda southwestern Yunnan Province, China, but there is pangolins have been valued through history by human uncertainty over distribution in the country. It occupies a beings, principally for consumptive use and international variety of habitats, from primary and secondary tropical trade has involved their meat, scales and skin. However, forest, including lowland dipterocarp forest, to arti cial evidence indicates that such use and trade has been landscapes and cultivated areas including oil palm and unsustainable in recent decades (Broad et al., 1988; rubber plantations and gardens. However, research CITES, 1992, 1999). Currently, the Sunda pangolin is into its use of, and abundance in, modi ed habitats is listed as a protected species in all but one range state needed. (Brunei Darussalam). Direct threats comprise hunting Sunda pangolin receiving veterinary treatment. © Wildlife Reserves Singapore and poaching for local use and international traf cking Covered in overlapping, epidermal scales comprised in the animals and their meat and scales, which has of keratin, the Sunda pangolin is solitary and principally a number of drivers and facilitating factors. Indirect workshop on the trade and conservation of pangolins which was published in 2014 and contains a number of nocturnal, resting by day in tree hollows, fallen logs or threats include habitat loss and degradation. These native to south and Southeast Asia. The workshop urgent conservation actions, some of which have been burrows and is active at night. Being myrmecophagous, threats, combined with inadequate conservation action, resulted in a number of agreed recommendations implemented (Challender et al., 2014b). Similarly, in it predates almost exclusively on ants and termites. An are negatively affecting the viability of wild populations. and priority actions (see Pantel and Chin, 2009), 2015, the U.S and Vietnamese governments convened adept climber, it is semi-arboreal and has impressive many of which have been partly or fully implemented. representatives from pangolin range states in Asia and core strength, making use of its prehensile tail when Pangolins have received little conservation attention Subsequently, the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Africa in Da Nang, Vietnam and developed a series of climbing and foraging for prey in trees. Although historically. This has changed in the last decade and Group and Wildlife Reserves Singapore organised a actions and recommendations to mitigate the threats relatively little is understood about the social structure there have been a number of action planning activities conservation conference on pangolins in 2013. This that pangolin populations face (Anon, 2015). Many of of the species, inferences from the Chinese pangolin for pangolins, especially in Asia. In 2008, TRAFFIC, resulted in the rst ever global conservation action these actions have also been implemented. However, Manis pentadactyla, suggest Sunda pangolins are the wildlife trade monitoring network, organised a plan for pangolins, ‘Scaling Up Pangolin Conservation’ despite development of these recommendations and
14 15 Status Review implementation of various actions in the last ten years, This Regional Conservation Strategy for the Sunda Sunda pangolin populations remain under threat and pangolin was developed at a workshop held at Wildlife 2. there remains a lack of co-ordinated conservation Reserves Singapore, Singapore on 28-30th June 2017. strategies to guide conservation of the species over the A total of 53 participants, comprising government next decade and beyond. representatives, conservation scientists, practitioners and zoo professionals from 16 countries met with the The pro le of pangolins has increased substantially aim of developing this strategy following IUCN best in the last decade, and in particular, in the last ve practice guidelines for species conservation planning years. This is because of growing awareness and (see Byers et al., 2013). Following compilation of the widening collective concern about the fate of the strategy all workshop participants had the opportunity world’s pangolins and the threats they face, especially to review it to ensure it accurately re ects the objectives traf cking of the animals and their parts due to and actions agreed upon that are needed to conserve persistent consumer demand. Extrapolating from the Sunda pangolin in the period 2018-2028. These seizure data suggests that since the year 2000 more objectives and actions were also cross-referenced than one million pangolins have been traf cked globally with previous recommendations and actions that have (IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, 2016), and been formulated in order to ensure complementarity the Sunda pangolin is the species of pangolin most with existing action plans. This strategy does not frequently found in illegal trade worldwide (Challender have dedicated resources and its implementation is et al., 2015). This growth in pro le has resulted incumbent on funding being secured to implement the in more governments, NGOs, scientists and civil agreed actions. Implementation of this strategy will be society organisations prioritising conservation action monitored by the Pangolin Specialist Group and the for pangolins than ever before. It has also led to an results updated on its website (www.pangolinsg.org). increase in funding for pangolin conservation. However, to ensure that limited conservation funding is used most wisely it is important that strategies are developed which articulate what the most urgent actions are, when and where they need to be implemented, and by which stakeholders.
Sunda pangolin rescued from illegal trade in Vietnam. © Dan Challender/Save Vietnam’s Wildlife
16 17 2. Status Review
Underpinning this strategy is a review of the conservation status of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China (Herklots, species is deemed problematic. The reviews conducted 1937), and from Sarawak (Malaysia) to Indonesia and as part of this process documented hunting-driven the Sunda pangolin. It includes a historical account of the species, and subsequently to Singapore and Hong Kong and likely population declines in many parts of the Sunda available information on present distribution, taxonomy, protection China (Harrisson and Loh, 1965). Similarly, during the pangolin’s range (Broad et al., 1988; CITES, 1992, status, species biology, values, conservation context and threats. 1950s to the 1970s at least 60,000 pangolins were 1999). For example, although unveri ed, interviews with killed each year in Southeast Asia for the Taiwanese villagers in parts of Lao PDR in the 1990s suggested leather industry, which again likely involved this species populations there had declined by up to 99% (CITES, 1992, 1999). between the 1960s and 1990s due to overexploitation (Duckworth et al., 1999). 2.1 Taxonomy 2.2 Historical account Following the inception of CITES in 1975, the Sunda The Sunda pangolin Manis javanica (Desmarest, The Sunda pangolin has a large natural range and pangolin was listed in Appendix II. According to Apart from trade in skins, pangolin scales were also 1822), also known as the Malayan pangolin, is one would have once have been found throughout most CITES trade data, between 1975 and the year 2000, traded internationally between 1975 and the year of eight extant species of pangolin. It resides in the of mainland Southeast Asia and Southeast Asian approximately 500,000 Sunda pangolin skins were 2000. This involved the Sunda pangolin and amounted Order Pholidota and Family Manidae, and the genus islands west of Sulawesi, including Borneo, Java and exported from Southeast Asia, mainly from Indonesia, to scales from approximately 50,000 animals which Manis, along with the three other Asian pangolins: the Sumatra (Corbet and Hill, 1992). This includes large Thailand, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Singapore, and largely largely took place during the 1990s (Challender et al., Chinese pangolin M. pentadactyla, Indian pangolin M. parts of Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, destined for the U.S and Mexico for the manufacture and 2015). However, both the trade in skins and scales were crassicaudata, and Philippine pangolin M. culionensis Thailand, Malaysia (including Malaysian Borneo), retail of leather goods (e.g., wallets, belts and handbags) dwarfed by illegal trade that was not reported to CITES Gaubert et al., 2018; (Gaudin et al., 2009). Populations Indonesia (including Sumatra, Java and Borneo), (Heinrich et al., 2016; Challender and Waterman, 2017). during this period, most of which originated in Southeast of pangolins in the Philippines were formerly considered Brunei Darussalam and Singapore and surrounding This equates to a mean of 21,000 animals a year traded Asia and likely involved the Sunda pangolin. For example, to comprise the Sunda pangolin but were separated by islands. There are uncertain records from Yunnan in this period (Challender and Waterman, 2017). Sunda China illegally imported tens of thousands of pangolins Feiler (1998) and subsequently by Gaubert and Antunes Province, southwestern China (Wu et al., 2005; Jiang pangolin skin tanning operations were also observed in annually during the 1990s (Li and Li, 1998; Wu and (2005) on the basis on discrete morphological differences. et al., 2015). The Sunda pangolin now occurs in a Southeast Asia during this period (Nash, 1997; Nooren Ma, 2007), while Taiwan (P.R. China) and South Korea These include total number of scale rows across reduced range principally due to overexploitation, and Claridge, 2001). Despite international trade in skins imported up to 13 tonnes of scales annually throughout the back, size of scales in the nuchal, scapular and and human and agricultural expansion, especially being reported to CITES, implying that non-detriment the 1980s, and China imported 95 tonnes of scales postscapular regions and, among other characteristics, intensive agriculture. For example, it has reportedly ndings (NDFs) had been made by exporting countries between 1990 and 1995 (Broad et al., 1988; CITES, the ratio of nasal bone to total skull length. been extirpated from many lowland areas of Myanmar, thus ensuring trade was not unsustainable, insights from 1992, 1999). Challender et al. (2015) estimated that this Thailand and Lao PDR and parts of Vietnam (Challender local communities and indigenous peoples in the region trade represented at minimum, an additional 500,000- There has been little research on Sunda pangolin et al., 2014a). on perceived abundance suggests it was detrimental to 900,000 pangolins, beyond trade reported to CITES. taxonomy with the exception of research clarifying the populations, with populations declining over time (CITES, status of M. culionensis as distinct from M. javanica Much other knowledge of the species is based on 1992, 1999). Ongoing local use and trade in Sunda pangolin parts (Gaubert and Antunes, 2005; though see Gaudin et historical trade data, with inferences about the impact (e.g., meat and scales; CITES, 1992), and international al., 2009; Hassanin et al., 2015; Tan et al., 2016). of overexploitation of populations con rmed by local Based on concerns about volumes of international trade in skins and scales, combined with illegal trade, However, recent research suggests that three previously communities and indigenous peoples. In Asia, the trade in the species and its impact on populations, evidently negatively impacted populations of the Sunda unrecognised genetic lineages of Sunda pangolins commercial trade in pangolins can be traced back to the Sunda pangolin was included in the CITES Review pangolin between 1975 and 2000 (CITES, 1992, 1999). exist, possibly from Borneo, Java, and Singapore/ at least the early 20th century and which more than of Signi cant Trade (RST) process in 1988, 1992 and The magnitude of the legal trade, the growing cross- Sumatra, and being precautionary, the authors advise likely involved the Sunda pangolin, though such trade 1999. The RST process is the CITES species-speci c border illegal trade, mainly destined to China, and that pending further research, the populations should likely took place much earlier as well. Reports describe non-compliance mechanism through which remedial the shifting patterns in harvesting from Indonesia and be treated as evolutionarily distinct conservation units the export of industrial quantities of scales from Java measures are formulated where trade in Appendix-II Thailand to Lao PDR, Malaysia and other range states, (Nash et al., 2018). in the 1920s to meet demand for scales for use in
18 19 and the likelihood that this was due to overexploitation, Although this measure appears to have led to the decline Extrapolations from seizure data suggest that more than driving demand for pangolin parts (Drury, 2011; Shairp are evidence that this was the case. International of legal exports of Asian pangolin skins, and scales one million pangolins may have been traf cked globally et al., 2016). This demand, combined with poor concern about the status of Asian pangolin populations (e.g., to China and the Republic of Korea), illegal trade since the year 2000 (IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist enforcement of applicable laws and regulations (EIA, at the end of the 20th century, including the Sunda in pangolins globally between 2000 and the rst half of Group, 2016). The depletion of China’s native pangolin 2016), and facilitated by questionable law enforcement pangolin, led to a number of range states proposing 2017, involved a minimum estimate of 279,000 animals populations by the mid-1990s (see Zhang, 2009), practices (e.g., the auctioning of con scated pangolins that the Asian pangolin species be transferred from (Challender and Waterman, 2017) and involved pangolins and population declines in neighbouring countries, back in to trade up until 2016), and absolute and CITES Appendix II to Appendix I at CoP11 in the year (i.e. the animals themselves), their meat and scales such as Vietnam and Lao PDR, led to the growth in relative poverty in source areas combined with 2000. This proposal was rejected (partly because the (Challender et al., 2015; EIA, 2017). Whilst it is dif cult to illegal trade of pangolins, their meat and scales from prices for the animals, has led to population declines species were in the RST process) and instead Asian determine accurately which species were involved in this Sunda pangolin range states including Indonesia, across the Sunda pangolin’s range. This is evidenced pangolins were retained in Appendix II but with zero trade, and in what number, based on reported origins, Malaysia and Myanmar in recent decades (Newton and corroborated by reported declines among export quotas for all range states, effectively banning exporting countries and seizure data, a large proportion et al., 2008; Challender et al., 2015). An increasingly local communities and indigenous peoples groups international commercial trade in wild-caught Asian of this illegal trade undoubtedly involved the Sunda wealthy population in China and Vietnam, with greater (Challender et al., 2014a and references therein), pangolins and their parts. pangolin (see Challender et al., 2015). purchasing power, is one of the main factors currently and perhaps inferred from the source of pangolins,
Sunda pangolin © Angus Chaplin Rogers. Figure 1. Sunda pangolin Manis javanica distribution. Source: Challender et al. 2014a. 20 21 and scales in particular, switching to India and Nepal 2.3 Present distribution Brunei Darussalam protection status; McCann and Pawlowski, 2017), (e.g., Mohapatra et al., 2015) and more recently to a The Sunda pangolin persists in all known range The species has been reported in all four districts of Southern Cardamom National Park and Botum Sakor range of African countries (Challender and Hywood, states, being native to Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam (Brunei Muara, Tutong, Kuala Belait National Park (Gray et al. 2017a), where it inhabits 2012; 2017; Heinrich et al., 2017; Ingram et al., 2018). Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Temburong) but little is known about its status there evergreen, semi-evergreen deciduous forest and coastal Demand for pangolins, observed patterns of harvesting Thailand and Vietnam (Challender et al., 2014a) (Fig. 1). (Fletcher, 2016). mangroves. Populations are thought to be declining and and probable overexploitation in many parts of its There is uncertainty over the distribution of the species it is understood to occur in low numbers, and to have range, the ease with which the animals are poached, in China. However, there is a poor understanding of Cambodia been extirpated from many areas due to hunting (see and the inability of populations to recover following its altitudinal limits. There is also a poor understanding The Sunda pangolin is widely distributed in Cambodia. Challender et al., 2014a and citations within). overexploitation (i.e. densities are so low in places that of its conservation needs, which has hampered the It has been recorded from sea-level to 830m asl (Gray individual animals cannot nd mates) were the main identi cation of priority sites for its conservation. The et al., 2017a) and historically occurred throughout Recent records (e.g. in central Phnom Penh) likely justi cations for the transfer of this species from CITES Sunda pangolin appears to be intolerant of colder deciduous forest, low land and hill evergreen forest involve individuals that have escaped from illegal trade Appendix II to Appendix I in 2016. temperatures; captive Sunda pangolins north of their and secondary forest, prior to the extensive hunting (T Gray, pers. comm. 2018). Between 2001 and 2015 known distribution range often die due to exposure driven declines which have occurred in the past 10–20 the national Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team of Wildlife (Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Programme, years. Extensive camera trapping since 2002 (though Alliance seized 360 live pangolins from 91 cases across unpubl. data; Hua et al., 2015). Most records of this none targeted at Sunda pangolins) has generated 19 of the country’s 25 provinces with an additional 22 species in mainland Southeast Asia are below 1000 only a few records, for example, there are no camera cases of pangolin meat or scales being traded. m asl (above sea level; see Section 2.5.3). If 1000 trap records of the Sunda pangolin from Cambodia’s m asl represents the approximate altitudinal limits of Eastern Plains Landscape despite more than 100,000 China this species in mainland Southeast Asia, then this will trap-nights of effort (Phan et al., 2010; A. Olsson, pers. Wu et al. (2005) recorded the species as present in China impact the ability to secure sites for its conservation; comm.). However recent camera-trapping in a remote based on specimens held at the Kunming Institute of many lowland areas within this species’ range are part of Southern Cardamom National Park detected Zoology, but there is uncertainty over the provenance severely affected by the illegal wildlife trade (CEPF, the species from 11 of 67 camera-trap stations when of these specimens. It is uncertain whether the Sunda 2012). Typically, most protected areas within its range setting camera-traps randomly (Gray et al., 2017a). pangolin occurs naturally in China. that have been afforded some protection from poaching This suggests that camera-trapping as conventionally and/or habitat conversion are relatively inaccessible, practiced in Indochina (i.e. targeted hotspots likely to Indonesia i.e. occur at higher altitudes and/or with steep terrain. detect large mammals) may have low probability of The Sunda pangolin has a widespread distribution Information on distribution within each range state is detecting pangolins. in Indonesia including Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Kiau presented below. and the Linngga archipelago, Bangka and Belitung, The species has been con rmed in a number of forest Nias and Pagi islands and Bali and adjacent islands Bangladesh reserves in Cambodia: the Cardamom Mountains (Corbet and Hill, 1992). It is also reported to occur on A number of sources suggest that the Sunda pangolin (Gray et al., 2017a), the Elephant Mountains, Central the Great Bunguran Islands (Natuna Islands) off the occurs in Bangladesh (Khan 1985, 2008, 2010; CITES, Cambodian Lowland Forests (Prey Long), Eastern northwest coast of Borneo (Phillips and Phillips, 2018). 2016), but recent research found no evidence to support Plains Landscape, Northern Plains (Songkom Thmey Its abundance is thought to be low in the peat-swamp this, and the species’ existence in Bangladesh remains district; G. McCann in litt. 2017), Chhep Wildlife forests of east and central Kalimantan (Indonesian unveri ed and questionable (Trageser et al., 2017). Sanctuary (Suzuki et al., 2017), wildlife sanctuaries (e.g. Borneo) (see Challender et al., 2014a) though this Peam Krasop; Thaung et al., 2017) and national parks habitat has not been well monitored for Sunda (e.g. Virachey NP, which might be nationally important pangolins to date. Local people from Ubud, central Bali, due to less poaching than other parks and its vulnerable report that thirty years ago pangolins would wander into
22 23 household gardens whereas now it is hard to nd them Malaysia (H. Nash, pers. comm. 2017). Anecdotal information The Sunda pangolin has a wide distribution in from residents suggests that pangolins may be slightly Peninsular Malaysia (including on the island of Penang) more abundant in northern parts of Bali, although they and occurs in tropical forests, including in national parks remain rare (H. Nash, pers. comm. 2017). There are and wildlife reserves (e.g., Pasoh Forest Reserve, the recent records from secondary forest and plantations Kenyir Wildlife Corridor), but also gardens and oil palm at 360-900 m asl in Tanggamus and Lampung Barat and rubber plantations (Medway, 1977; Numata et al., districts of West Java (Wirdateti and Semiadi, 2013). 2005). Although described as common in some areas up until the 1990s, and while still present in oil palm Lao PDR plantations (e.g., in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan) Although presumably widespread historically in Lao interviews with plantations workers suggest the PDR, there are records of varying reliability from many species is declining due to poaching for trade (Azhar areas below c. 600 m asl altitude, and it is possible et al., 2013; Ickes and Thomas, 2003). In Peninsular that in Lao PDR the species is restricted to the Mekong Malaysia, Orang Asli and local community members plain and adjacent foothills up to c. 900 m asl, with a in Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu and Johor, report possible occurrence on the Bolaven Plateau, north from that the species is present but that populations are Xe Pian National Biodiversity Conservation Area in the declining (Challender et al., 2014a; Chong et al., 2016 ). south at least as far north as Nam Kading (Duckworth In 2014, a total of 4,364 and 3,453 camera trap-nights et al., 1999). Unveri ed interviews with villagers in parts in Kelantan and Terengganu respectively, produced of Lao PDR in the 1990s suggested populations there just a single record of Sunda pangolins (Jambari et had declined by more than 90% between the 1960s al., 2015). The Sunda pangolin is widely distributed in and 1990s due to overexploitation (Duckworth et al., Malaysian Borneo, from sea level to 1,700 m asl on 1999) and Nooren and Claridge (2001) reported that Mount Kinabalu in Sabah (Payne et al., 1985; Phillips populations in Lao PDR have been severely reduced as and Phillips, 2018). In Malaysian Borneo, it has been a result of hunting for consumption and trade. A total recorded in mixed dipterocarp forest, riverine forest of 3383 camera trap days in Nakai-Nam Thuen in 2016 (Azlan and Engkamat, 2013) as well as remnant forests produced 6 trigger events at 6/49 stations (Coudrat, (Giman et al., 2007). In Sabah, the species is widely 2017). These events were recorded as Manis sp. distributed though is purportedly mainly distributed in because Chinese pangolins could also be present and central Sabah, but seldom seen (see Davies and Payne, it was not possible to con dently determine species. 1982). It was previously considered common though All pangolin records came from 720 to 970 m asl (C. there is little data on the species’ status. It is present in Coudrat, pers. comm. 2017). a number of forest reserves, wildlife reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Camera trap surveys conducted between 2000 and 2017 con rmed presence of the species in Top image: Pangolin carcasses being buried the Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon (Bernard et al., in Indonesia © Paul Hilton for WCS. 2013), Sipitang Forest Reserve, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Bottom left: Seized pangolin scales © WCS. Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve, Ulu Padas, Malua Bottom right: Seized pangolin organs © WCS. Forest Reserve, Danum Valley, Sepilok-Kabili Forest
24 25 Reserve and Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Singapore and unprotected forest adjacent to Universiti Malaysia This species is found in the wild in Singapore and on Sabah (E. Panjang, unpubl. data). Interviews with local adjacent islands including Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin communities and plantation workers living nearby (Lim and Ng, 2007). It is breeding in Singapore (Chan, Sepilok-Kabili Forest Reserve (2011-2015) and the Lower 2017), ) but population trends are not known. Records Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (2016-2017), suggests from public sightings, rescue and roadkill reports, and pangolins are rarer today compared to 20-30 years ago camera trap surveys in nature reserves and adjacent (E. Panjang, pers. comm. 2018). The species is also nature parks are being analysed to better understand present in Sarawak (Wilson, 2006). Surveys in 2005 pangolin distribution and threats in Singapore. Over recorded its presence at Bintulu, and though apparently the years Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) received absent from the extensive peat swamp forests in this an average of 20 wild Singaporean pangolins per year. state (CITES, 2000) there has been little monitoring Over 80% have been successfully rehabilitated. WRS effort for the species in this habitat. It was recorded in also manages a captive breeding program for Sunda the locale around Mount Penrissen (on the Sarawak- pangolins, has developed husbandry guidelines and Kalimantan border) at elevations up to 1200 m between conducted and supported many research projects 2015 and 2017 (Kaicheen and Mohd-Azlan, 2018). There on pangolins in Singapore, which ultimately led to the is otherwise little information on the distribution and development of a National Conservation Strategy and status of the Sunda pangolin in Sarawak, though it does Action Plan for Sunda Pangolins. (Lee et al., 2018). appear in bushmeat trade in Kuching, Sibu and Kapit (J.L. Chong, pers. comm. 2017).
Myanmar Top left: caption: Sunda pangolin undergoing In Myanmar, the Sunda pangolin is distributed in a health check © Wildlife Reserves Singapore. central and southern parts of the country, but has Middle left: Juvenile Sunda pangolin rescued reportedly been extirpated from lowland areas due to from a wildlife trafficker © WCS. bottom left: Frozen pangolins © WCS. hunting and agricultural expansion (Challender et al., Top right: Descaled pangolins © Paul Hilton for 2014a). However, in recent years it has been recorded WCS, Bottom right: Pangolin fetus in wine © WCS. in Tanintharyi region in the south of the country (see Challender and Waterman, 2017) and recent observations of Manis spp. in Karen state most likely refer to the Sunda pangolin (Moo et al., 2017).
26 27 Thailand Vietnam 2.4 Protection status With one exception, the Sunda pangolin is listed as a In Thailand the Sunda pangolin has a broad distribution, In Vietnam, the Sunda pangolin is distributed in central The Sunda pangolin is listed as Critically Endangered protected species in all range states. National wildlife and historically occurred throughout the country and southern parts of the country though records vary on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species on the legislation typically prohibits exploitation of the species (Legakul and McNeely, 1977), but has reportedly been in reliability due to the dif culties in distinguishing it basis of past, ongoing and future population reductions (e.g., hunting, capturing, killing, etc.), except under lost from much of the lowland areas within its range due from Chinese pangolin records based on unveri able based on actual or potential levels of exploitation (Red scienti c licence from the appropriate government body to hunting and agricultural expansion (see Challender interview data and con scation records. There are older List criteria A2d+3d+4d; Challender et al., 2014a). (Table 1). The exception is Brunei Darussalam where et al., 2014a). Although reportedly increasingly rare, records from Kon Tum Province, Tay Ninh Province Previous assessments categorised the species as the Sunda pangolin receives broad protection under it has been detected in a number of national parks in and Quang Nam Province (Bourret, 1942), with more Endangered (Duckworth et al., 2008), and prior to that the Forestry Act (2002), Wildlife Protection Act (1981), the last decade (see Challender and Waterman, 2017). recent records (summarised by Newton 2007) from: Ha as Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt) (IUCN, 1996). and the Wild Fauna and Flora Order (2007), which This includes con rmation of presence in the south- Tinh Province (Timmins and Cuong, 1999); Kien Giang The change in status to Critically Endangered in 2014 implements CITES in the country, but it is not listed as eastern Western Forest Complex (sWEFCOM), Khlong and Ca Mau Provinces (in U Minh Thuong National was a non-genuine change made on the basis of new a protected species (Challender et al., 2014a; CITES, Naka Wildlife Sanctuary and Khao Yai National Park Park; CARE, 2004); Dong Nai, Bin Phuoc and Lam information being available on the magnitude of threats 2016). (W. Sodsai, pers. comm. 2017; ‘Lynam et al., 2006 in Dong Provinces (Cat Tien National Park; Murphy and the species faces, in particular levels of poaching and Newton et al. 2008). Sunda pangolins have also been Phan, 2001); Quang Binh (Le et al., 1997a) and Dak traf cking, and the impact overexploitation has had and In Vietnam, the Sunda pangolin is included in Decree photographed in the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, Lak (Le et al., 1997b). Recent research suggests the is having on populations. 160 (160/2013/ND-CP), which is the country’s highest (W. Sodsai, pers. comm. 2017). species is present but rare in central and southern protection level. It was previously listed in Group IIB of Vietnam (MacMillan and Nguyen, 2013; Nuwer and The Sunda pangolin is listed in CITES Appendix I. It was Decree 32, making it legal to sell con scated pangolins Bell, 2013). It was recorded in 2013 in Cat Tien National transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I at CoP17 back into trade, but the species’ inclusion on Decree Park (Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, unpubl. data). In 2008, (Johannesburg, 2016) with the other seven species 160 means that this is no longer the case. it was recorded in U Minh Ha National Park (Willcox et of pangolin, which brought about an international al., 2017). Surveys using trained detection dogs have trade ban in wild-caught pangolins and their parts and However, non-native species of pangolin are typically recorded the species in Cat Tien National Park and derivatives traded for commercial purposes. This ban not included in national wildlife legislation that camera-trapping has recorded it in Pu Mat National came into force on 2nd January 2017. Additionally, protects Sunda pangolins. Several Sunda pangolin Park (Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, unpubl. data), though it CITES also adopted a Resolution on pangolins, Res. range states act as transit/point-of-sale countries for is unknown whether these were released animals. A Conf. 17.10, Conservation of and trade in pangolins pangolin scales traf cked from Africa but which are not Sunda pangolin was observed at night during reptile (CITES, 2017), which urges pangolin range states readily recognised (e.g., Lao PDR; see Gomez et al., and amphibian surveys in Pu Mat National Park in 2014 to, among other things, implement comprehensive 2016). In theory, this could facilitate the traf cking of (S. Trageser, pers. comm. 2018). It has been camera- national legislation, or where applicable, review existing Sunda pangolin scales that have been mislabelled or trapped in Bach Ma National Park (A. Wilting, pers. legislation to ensure deterrent penalties are in place misidenti ed as African pangolin scales. comm. 2017). There are recent camera trap records to address illegal trade in pangolins, ensure that from Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam Saola Reserves enforcement of such regulations are strictly enforced, in central Vietnam (T. Gray, in litt. 2017; A. Wilting, and to work with local communities to sustainably unpubl. data) though it is unknown whether these were manage pangolin populations. released animals. There are also records of the species from Nghe An Province in recent years (see Challender and Waterman, 2017).
28 29 Range state Legislation Protection status 2.5 Species biology (Newton et al. 2008). In each of these areas, the Pangolins are relatively understudied compared to species was described as now being extremely rare. Wildlife Protection Act (1981), Forestry Act (2002), Wild Fauna and Flora Not listed as a protected Brunei Darussalam many other mammals and other species. However, Vietnam categorised the species as Endangered in its Order (2007). species knowledge of Sunda pangolin biology and ecology Red Data book in 2007. The situation is similar in other range states including Cambodia (T. Gray, pers. comm. Forestry Law (2002), Sub-decree No. 53 on International Trade in is presented below including information on current Cambodia Listed as Rare in 2003 Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (2006). numbers, population dynamics, life history and 2017), where the species was listed as ‘Rare’ in 2003. ecological role (including habitat, diet and movements), The species was listed as Vulnerable in the Red List of Not listed as a Protection of Wildlife Act (1989), Regulations on the Implementation of disease and genetics. This knowledge and information Mammals for Peninsular Malaysia in 2010 and Critically protected species but Protection of Terrestrial Wild Animals (1992), Regulations on Management underpins the vision, goals, objectives and actions Endangered in 2017. In Sabah, East Malaysia, it was China* is considered a State of Import and Export of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora listed as Vulnerable in 2012 (E. Panjang, pers. comm. Category II Protected presented in Section 3. (2006). species 2018), and in Thailand (Challender and Waterman, 2.5.1 Current numbers 2017). In Myanmar, the Sunda pangolin has reportedly Act No. 5/1990 (Conservation of Living Natural Resources and There are few quantitative population estimates for been eradicated from lowland areas due to hunting and Indonesia Ecosystems), Government Regulation No. 7/1999 (Conservation Protected species pangolins at any level and there are no estimates of agricultural expansion, and while there are no recent of Fauna and Flora). Sunda pangolin populations sub-nationally, nationally data on status, seizures of the species in China indicate origins of Myanmar and suggest that populations of the Listed in the or regionally. An exception is Singapore where the Lao PDR Wildlife and Aquatic Act (2007). ‘Prohibition’ category population has been estimated at around 1000 species here are under threat (Challender et al., 2015). The species is present and breeding in Singapore (Chan, International Trade in Endangered Species Act (2008), Wildlife individuals (see Nash et al., 2019). The species is Malaysia (Peninsular) Totally Protected Conservation Act (2010). rarely observed, both because it is primarily nocturnal 2017) but population trends have yet to be established. and solitary, secretive and elusive, and because of its Revision of the National Red List assessment in Malaysia (Sabah) Wildlife Conservation Enactment (1997). Totally Protected increasing rarity. Hunting-, poaching- and trade-driven Singapore resulted in the species being categorised as Malaysia (Sarawak) Wildlife Protection Ordinance (1998). Protected declines have been reported or are inferred, based Critically Endangered (Davison et al., 2008). Myanmar The Conservation of Biodiversity and Protected Areas Law (2018) Completely Protected on accounts from local community members and indigenous peoples and the magnitude of exploitation in Evidence from seizures involving this species indicate Wild Animals and Birds Act (1995; amended 2000), Wild Animals and many parts of its range, including Cambodia, Lao PDR, that it occurs in some number in Indonesia (Sumatra, Birds (Composition of Offences Act) Order 2005; Endangered Species Singapore Protected Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam (see Section Java and Kalimantan), though the magnitude of (Import and Export) Act (2006; amended 2008). Also, Parks and Trees Act international trade originating from Indonesia suggests (2005; amended 2017). 2.3; CITES 1992; 1999; Challender et al., 2014a). populations are or could be in severe decline. This is Thailand Wild Animals Reservation and Protection Act B.E. 2535 (1992). Protected Wild Animal It is now extremely rare in the northern part of its dif cult to state categorically. However, the estimated range in Indochina where there have been massive generation length of seven years (see Challender et Vietnam Decree No. 160/2013/ND-CP; Vietnam Penal Code (as amended 2018). declines (Nooren and Claridge, 2001; Challender et al., 2014a), the indiscriminate nature of poaching al., 2014a). In three areas of Vietnam where interviews (both sexes and all life stages are targeted), and the were conducted (Khe Net Protected Area, Ke Go magnitude of illegal trade supports this assertion. Table 1. National wildlife legislation affording protection to the Sunda pangolin in its range states Nature Reserve and Song Thanh Nature Reserve), Takandjandji and Sawitri report high numbers of *China promulgated two judicial interpretations in 2000, which de ned criteria for punishing crimes involving pangolins speci cally. A noti cation issued 95% of hunters believed pangolins populations have Sunda pangolins traf cked from Indonesia between by national Chinese agencies in 2007 strengthened regulation for species used in traditional medicines, including pangolins, meaning among other declined severely in recent decades as a consequence 2002 and 2015, mainly to meet demand for meat things, existing stockpiles of pangolin scales are to be subject to veri cation, certi cation and subject to retail only through designated hospitals. of hunting pressure, but particularly since 1990 when and scales in China.
The Sunda Pangolin is also listed in Annex A of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations (Commission Reg. (EU) No 2017/160 of 20 January 2017). commercial trade in pangolins began to escalate
30 31 In conjunction with other knowledge and information There is little information available on the population (see above and Sections 2.2 and 2.3), Sunda pangolin structure of the Sunda pangolin, though individuals population declines can be inferred from the source of probably fall into one of three categories: juveniles, for illegal trade switching to other regions and countries. young pangolins up to the point of weaning and leaving For example, the sourcing of scales from India, Nepal their mother (3-4 months; Lim and Ng, 2008a); sub- and Pakistan (e.g., Mohapatra et al., 2015), as well as adults, for pangolins that have become independent a range of African countries (Challender and Hywood, but are not yet sexually mature (3-4 months – 1 year 2012; EIA, 2017; Gomez et al., 2016). old), and adults, for sexually mature animals (1 year +). Zhang et al. (2015) report that some Sunda pangolins 2.5.2 Population dynamics may reach sexual maturity at 6-7 months old. Yang et Pangolins generally have low fecundity. Like the other al. (2010) suggest four categories of life stage - cub, seven species, the Sunda pangolin typically gives sub-adult, adult and senior animals. birth to one young at parturition (Nowak, 1999; Lim and Ng, 2008a; Zhang et al., 2015), though there are Survival and mortality rates are largely unknown and the unveri ed reports of pangolins having two, or even three population biology of the species commands further offspring though these incidents are understood to be research. However, mortality rates are likely high based uncommon. Gestation period in the Sunda pangolin on the indiscriminate nature of poaching and traf cking, lasts approximately 6 months (~150 days Challender which targets both sexes and animals of any age. Many et al., 2014a; Nguyen et al., 2014). Zhang et al. (2015) animals do not survive the unsanitary condition of illegal suggest the gestation period may last up to 207 trade or the periods of time being traf cked. Although days (range = 106-207 days), while Wildlife Reserves some animals are released following con scation from Singapore estimate the gestation period to comprise the trade, there is a lack of evidence on survival rates 175-189 days (Wildlife Reserves Singapore, unpubl. and what proportion of animals survive or how long they data). Research suggests that the Sunda pangolin does persist once they have been released. Little is known not have a speci c breeding season but breeds all year about the prevalence of stochastic environmental round (Lim and Ng, 2008a; Nguyen et al., 2014; Zhang effects such as disease (see Section 2.5.4) or season. Sunda pangolin being radio-tracked in Singapore © Wildlife Reserves Singapore et al., 2015). The period of maternal care in this species has been estimated to be around 3-4 months (Lim 2.5.3 Life history and ecological role et al., 2013; Wearn, 2015; Fletcher, 2016; Willcox However, research is needed on the comparative use and Ng, 2008a; Challender et al., 2012). Population The Sunda pangolin is terrestrial and arboreal, resting et al., 2017). In Malaysian Borneo, the species was of, and abundance in natural habitats and arti cial recruitment rates are unknown in the wild, though by day in tree hollows, fallen logs or burrows and recorded more frequently in modi ed habitats than in landscapes, including the species’ ability to persist in research suggests that Sunda pangolins may breed active at night. An adept climber, it has impressive core primary forest, but it is unclear whether the species isolated blocks of monoculture plantations (e.g., oil continuously, with trade-con scated nursing females strength, making use of its prehensile tail when climbing was more abundant in those habitats or was merely palm) assuming poaching can be controlled. also known to be pregnant (see Zhang et al., 2015), but and foraging for prey in trees. It has been recorded in easier to detect (Davies and Payne, 1982). Records giving birth to only one young a year. In the northern a wide variety of habitats including grasslands, peat of the species in modi ed habitats, including evidence This species is predominantly nocturnal though there parts of its range where there is a stronger winter swamp forest, primary and secondary tropical forests, of breeding (e.g., in Singapore) suggests that it is are records of diurnal activity (e.g., Lim, 2007). Like season, breeding might be seasonal, due to reduced palm oil and rubber plantations, and urban areas, adaptable to different habitat types and modi cation, other species of pangolin, it is also solitary, except when activity among prey, speci cally ants. including gardens and cultivated landscapes (Payne providing there remains a prey base (i.e. ants and mating and rearing young (Nowak, 1999; Lim and Ng, et al., 1985; Lim, 2007; Lim and Ng, 2008a; Azhar termites) and populations are not unduly persecuted. 2008a). The only detailed published study on Sunda
32 33 pangolin ecology remains Lim (2007), parts of which (Phillips and Phillips, 2018) and likely sun bears (Hedges external parasites as well as diseases, including bacterial Full mitogenomes are being sequenced for a broader were published in Lim and Ng (2008a). In Lim (2007), and Aziz, 2013), as well as pythons (e.g., reticulated dermatitis beneath the scales, and suffer from gastric range of Sunda pangolin samples (P. Gaubert, pers. four adult male pangolins were tracked for 6-7 days, python Malayopython reticulatus; Lim and Ng, 2008b). and oesophageal ulceration (Clark et al., 2009). Although comm. 2018) from northern range states, including for which the mean 100% MCP (Minimum Convex health checks are conducted as a matter of best practice Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Indonesia. Given Polygon) home range estimate was 41 ha. In Lim and The altitudinal limits of this species’ across its range are by some organisations when releasing trade-con scated the large geographic range of Sunda pangolins, such Ng (2008a), a female pangolin that gave birth during the not well understood. However, it has been suggested animals back into the wild, this is not always the case research might uncover additional population-level, or study used three natal dens (all associated with trees/ that there might be an altitudinal limit in mainland South- and there is a risk of transmission between released and even subspecies or species-level differentiation. tree hollows with DBH > 50cm), had a 100% MCP east Asia, with the species found mainly in the lowlands resident animals (see IUCN/SSC 2013). Studies of morphology will be needed to complement home estimate of 7 ha, and a maternal care period of and lower hills, below 600 m asl in Lao PDR (Duckworth genetic analyses. 3 to 4 months. Based on Lim and Ng (2008a) females et al., 1999). 2.5.5 Genetics may have some dependence on tree hollows around The genetic population structure of Sunda pangolins Many Sunda pangolin populations are now fragmented parturition and during maternal care. Additionally, eleven Sunda pangolins are probably more adapted to has recently been investigated across insular Southeast and possibly small, which could potentially cause genera of ant were recorded being foraged upon, wetlands and riverine ecosystems than is initially Asia and distinct population level lineages were revealed inbreeding and low genetic diversity. Local research with ants accounting for 67% of time spent foraging apparent based on their morphology. The U Minh for Borneo, Java and Sumatra/Singapore (Nash et has not yet been conducted to better understand and termites 33%. Territorial behaviour has also been wetlands in Vietnam are seasonally inundated for a large al., 2018). These population genetic results were these issues. Ideally there would be baseline genetic recorded between males (Lim, 2007); wild-caught part of the year (Willcox et al., 2017) and the species’ only apparent using a large number of genome-wide information before fragmentation and population size con scated males have also exhibited territoriality when seems to enjoy going into pools of water in captivity markers and could not be detected by mitochondrial reduction for comparison with current states, but this housed together in captivity (Carnivore and Pangolin (Nguyen et al., 2014). In 2018, a GPS-tagged Sunda DNA markers alone. The genetic diversity and has not been collected. Conservation Program, unpubl. data). pangolin was recorded crossing the Kinabatangan River population viability of these subpopulations was not (with a width of about 105 m; E. Panjang, unpubl. data), thoroughly investigated due to a lack of available The Sunda pangolin performs an ecosystem service and there is also a record of a released Sunda pangolin samples of wild pangolins of known origin. Non-invasive by regulating social insect populations. It is understood swimming well in a stream with a strong current in sampling is challenging for Sunda pangolins: scat is to be myrmecophagous, predating on ants and Vietnam (Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, unpubl. data 2017). dif cult to nd, even with trained detection dogs; the termites, but is also known to ingestant larvae, bees There are records of other pangolin species apparently DNA yield of hair is low; scales can be useful but often (pupas), ies, worms, crickets and other insect larvae swimming large distances (Yang et al., 2007). only if tissue at the base of the scale is still attached; (Hua et al., 2015). Sand and grass may also be blood drawn by trained staff is typically necessary for ingested when eating. There has been an observed 2.5.4 Disease detailed population level analysis; and sample collection preference for Oecophylla ant species (weaver ants) There is generally little knowledge of disease regarding permits and CITES permits are always required. Despite and for Anoplolepis gracilipes (the Yellow Crazy Ant) pangolins or the impacts of disease on wild populations. these hurdles, there was some evidence of genetic in Singapore (Lim, 2007). It has also been observed However, a number of endo- and ecto-parasites are admixture between the three distinct populations across feeding on Oecophylla species in U Minh Ha National known to be associated with the Sunda pangolin. They insular Southeast Asia, which might possibly be due Park, Vietnam (Willcox et al., 2017) and will take this include protozoans (Eimeria tenggilingi), helminths to human-mediated transport of Sunda pangolins via species readily in captivity (Nguyen et al., 2014). Sunda (Brugia malayi, B. pahangi, Necator americanus and illegal trade and the release of live seizures into alien pangolins will also eat Crematogaster sp. (“heart- Gendrespirua sp.), and in terms of ecto-parasites, ticks habitats (Nash et al., 2018). shaped” ants) in captivity, though Lim (2007) reported (Amblyomma cordifeum, A. javanense, Aponomma an apparent avoidance of this genus in his study. varanensis) and mites (Mycoplasma sp.) (Kollars and Sithiprasasna, 2000; Hassan et al., 2013; Mohapatra et Predators include tigers, leopards, clouded leopards al., 2016). Pangolins in illegal trade are known to pick up
34 35 2.6 Values this study further research is needed to determine if this Key consumer markets for pangolins and their parts, Beyond consumptive uses, Sunda pangolins provide The Sunda pangolin has been, and is valued by a range is the case. currently comprise China and Vietnam, and to a lesser an ecosystem service by regulating social insect of different peoples and consumers, both locally and degree, other Asian and Southeast Asian nations (Shairp, populations by predating on large numbers of ants internationally, mainly for consumptive use purposes, Despite the range of consumptive uses of Sunda 2016; Xu et al., 2016; Challender and Waterman, 2017). and termites. This can result in reduced crop damage, though many uses and values are not well documented. pangolin parts, available evidence suggests the Pangolin meat is consumed as a luxury good in high-end hence Sunda pangolin may provide a means of ‘pest Historically, the species has been valued as a local species is now uncommonly used for local medicinal urban (and in some cases more rural) restaurants and control’ to local people and communities. Exact gures source of protein across its range, with the meat of and cultural uses in range states; most demand is for scales are used as in ingredient in traditional medicines to are not available for the Sunda pangolin, but it is known the animal being consumed for subsistence purposes luxury meat in urban centres in Vietnam and for the treat a variety of ailments in China and Vietnam (Shairp et that Temminck’s pangolin Smutsia temminckii will including in but not limited to, Indonesia, Lao PDR, pharmaceutical industry (for traditional medicine) in al., 2016; Xu et al., 2016). China introduced a certi cation consume 300-400g of termites in one sitting (Coulson, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam (e.g. Corlett, China. Exceptions include the use of old scales that system to control the trade and use of pangolin scales in 1989). However, little research has been conducted 2007). The scales have also been used, for example are stored locally (e.g., within households) for which 2007. This comprised measures to manage stockpiles on the extent to which local communities are aware to protect communities from bad omens and spirits possession may confer protection (as detailed above), of scales and includes a quota of scales from stockpiles of, value or support this ecosystem service. Similarly, (e.g., in parts of Malaysia CITES, 1992), to deter pests ongoing consumption for subsistence purposes being released onto a legal market each year in China. through burrowing behaviour for making dens, nesting from damaging crops (Puri, 2005), as amulets and in (e.g., in central and eastern Kalimantan and West Since 2009, an average of 26.6 tonnes of scales have sites or as part of foraging behaviour, Sunda pangolins jewellery (CITES, 1992; Duckworth et al., 1999), and in Java, Indonesia) and the sale of scales on occasion been released on this market annually (China Biodiversity are understood to aerate soil and potentially support traditional medicines in number of range states (CITES (Challender et al., 2014; Partasasmita et al., 2016). Conservation and Green Development Foundation 2016), nutrient cycle function (see CITES, 2016). 1992, 1999; Nguyen, 2016). but uncerti ed scales (i.e., being sold illegally) remain Many local uses have now been supplanted by widely available in China (Xu, 2009; Xu et al., 2016). Additionally, Sunda pangolin burrows are also likely The use of Sunda pangolin scales in traditional international demand for pangolin meat and scales to be used by a number of other species: Burmese medicines includes use at a local level in range states (MacMillan and Nguyen, 2013; Nuwer and Bell, 2013) In Indonesia, there is a rumour that pangolin scales can python Python bivittatus, elongated tortoise Indotestudo (i.e. household, local community level), as well as due to the high prices pangolins fetch in illegal trade be used in the manufacture of drugs including crystal elongata, East Asian porcupine Hystrix brachyura internationally, having been exported, both legally (Challender et al., 2015). Evidence indicates that the meth. In 2016, Indonesian police arrested a drugs and monitor lizards Varanus sp., while civets have and illegally, to East Asian countries (CITES, 1999; price of pangolins in trade has increased in recent dealer in Jambi and found tonnes of pangolin meat and been recorded using Chinese pangolin burrows in Challender and Waterman, 2017). This includes use of decades (e.g., in Vietnam; Newton et al., 2008) while scales; the traf ckers confessed that pangolin scales Bangladesh (S. Trageser, pers. comm. 2017). the scales as an ingredient in Traditional Chinese and retail prices in China for pangolin meat and scales are were being used in the production of premium quality Vietnamese Medicines to purportedly help lactating also reported to have been increasing in recent years crystal meth (WCS Targeted Intelligence Report, 2017). women produce milk, and to improve blood circulation (Challender et al., 2015), likely as a result of increasing This claim centres on the notion that pangolin scales and cure skin diseases (Chinese Pharmacopeia rarity of the animals and seemingly increasing demand contain Tramadol which is factually incorrect; Tramadol Commission, 2015). However, recent reference (e.g., Drury, 2011). Many areas within the species’ is a synthetic opioid drug and does not occur in nature. sources on managing cancer using Traditional Chinese range are likely to have experienced a shift like that Medicine (TCM) refer to the use of scales as an experienced in parts of Vietnam (e.g., Pu Mat National ingredient in medicines to help alleviate conditions Park) where, from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, associated with breast cancer and lymphoma (Yu and market forces and dwindling populations of other Hong, 2016). Furthermore, despite regulations on the traded wildlife meant international trade in pangolins use of pangolin scales in China research suggests that increased rapidly resulting in the cessation of local, at present it is largely Sunda pangolin scales that are subsistence use of pangolins (SFNC, 2003 in World being used in the manufacture of patented Chinese Bank, 2005). medicines (Liu et al., 2015), though given limitations to
36 37 2.7 Conservation planning to date engagement); policy recommendations (including There have been three conservation action planning CITES, legislation and enforcement); and demand exercises to date that are relevant to the Sunda reduction, behaviour change and awareness-raising. pangolin as detailed below. The 2008 TRAFFIC These actions remain critical to the conservation of workshop focused on the trade and conservation pangolins globally, and are intended as a high-level of pangolins native to South and Southeast Asia. guide for the development of more detailed regional and The output was a publication which synthesised national conservation strategies. current knowledge on Asian pangolins, including the Sunda pangolin, and set out a series of research The First Pangolin Range States meeting was held in and conservation priorities, including: research on Da Nang, Vietnam, in 2015. It was jointly hosted by pangolin ecology and biology; increased education the governments of Vietnam and the United States, and awareness-raising among a range of audiences and organised by Humane Society International (e.g. law enforcement, business, donors and youth); (HSI) with nancial support from the U.S. Fish and husbandry and rehabilitation research; knowledge Wildlife Service, International Fund for Animal Welfare, sharing and capacity building; and improved legal HSI, Natural Resources Defence Council and the protections and law enforcement. A number of these Freeland Foundation. The meeting was attended have been implemented since the recommendations by 95 participants, including 56 representatives were published (see Pantel & Chin, 2009). from 29 African and Asian range States. Its purpose was to foster collaboration between pangolin range The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group published states, consuming countries, and other stakeholders, the rst global pangolin conservation action plan, share information on pangolin status and trade and ‘Scaling up Pangolin Conservation Action’ in 2014 develop a suite of recommendations to mitigate the (see Challender et al 2014b). This action plan built on threats to pangolins from overexploitation as a result recommendations made at the IUCN SSC Pangolin of international traf cking. The recommendations Specialist Group’s 2013 global pangolin conservation include addressing gaps in knowledge of pangolin conference and TRAFFIC’s 2008 workshop, both of biology and ecology, legal and illegal harvest and which were hosted by Wildlife Reserves Singapore. The trade, care and husbandry of pangolins in captivity, action plan outlines priorities for pangolin conservation scienti c assessment under CITES and effective law in four main categories: conservation research (including enforcement. The full suite of recommendations was ecological monitoring, husbandry, rescue, rehabilitation presented as a uni ed pangolin conservation action and release, behaviour and ecology, and genetics); plan in to the 66th meeting of the CITES Standing protecting pangolin strongholds (including identifying Committee. strongholds, patrol-based monitoring and community
Sunda pangolin foraging for prey © Jeremy Holden
38 39 2.8 Threats and their drivers 2.8.1 Poaching livelihood options, and thereby a strong incentive to menu in restaurants in China and Vietnam (Challender There are three main threats to the Sunda pangolin as The Sunda pangolin has been exploited historically for poach. However, it also involves ‘hobbyists’, who are et al., 2015) and thereby perform an important social identi ed at the workshop. They comprise the direct consumptive use locally and internationally which the otherwise employed but poach pangolins for additional function of reinforcing social status. threat of poaching, primarily for international best available evidence indicates has led to widespread income, and organised criminals that operate with trafficking, which is resulting in the overexploitation declines in populations of this species (see Section extensive networks of poachers and traf c Sunda Pangolin scales are also in demand primarily in China of pangolin populations (i.e. more deaths than births); 2.2 and 2.3). Currently, poaching primarily takes place pangolins in pursuit of pro ts from illegal trade. and Vietnam, despite regulation prohibiting the use and indirect threats comprising habitat loss and to supply international markets, principally China and This is facilitated by pangolins being relatively easy of pangolin scales sourced illegally in both countries degradation, which is facilitating poaching and may Vietnam, with pangolin meat and scales. to capture once they have been found (e.g., with the (Challender and Waterman, 2017; Heinrich et al., 2017). be having a direct negative affect on Sunda pangolin assistance of hunting dogs, nets etc.), and by a lack The scales are used as an ingredient in Traditional Asian populations if the species cannot persist in isolated A number of factors facilitate poaching. Poaching of human resources and capacity among enforcement Medicine (TAM) as they have been for thousands of blocks of monoculture plantation, and the current takes places in both a targeted as well as opportunistic agencies to effectively tackle traf cking (see below). years, and which is culturally deeply embedded in both conservation response which, due to a combination manner across the species’ range. This is to meet, in The development of pangolin farming could in theory countries. Of cial pharmacopeia in China and Vietnam of factors, is proving inadequate in the face of these part, the income needs of local people, who in some lead to increased poaching of animals to stock farms. prescribe scales in medicines for curing skin diseases huge and complex threats (Figure 2). cases live in absolute or relative poverty and have few (e.g., psoriasis), improving blood circulation and for Although customary hunting by indigenous peoples stimulating milk production in lactating women (Chinese likely occurs across the species’ range, the extent to Pharmacopeia Commission, 2015). However, evidence which this is having an impact on pangolin populations suggests that the scales are also used in medicines to is unclear, but it may comprise an additive pressure on treat cancer (Yu and Hong, 2016). populations where the Sunda pangolin is subject to targeted poaching for international traf cking. Although of cial pharmacopeia prescribe scales from the Chinese pangolin only, Sunda pangolin scales are International (and national) demand for pangolin known to be used in medicines in China (Liu et al., products, principally meat and scales, largely in 2015). The sale and consumption of certi ed medicines China and Vietnam, but also in other Southeast Asian containing scales in China is permitted and the Chinese countries (e.g., Malaysia, Thailand) also drives poaching. government has released an average of 26.6 tonnes of The U.S. was also recently highlighted as a destination scales onto a legal market in China annually since 2009 for pangolin products traded illegally (Heinrich et al., for use in traditional medicine (Chinese Biodiversity 2017). Available evidence suggests meat consumption Conservation and Green Development Foundation, takes place among increasingly af uent consumers in 2016). Despite the certi cation mechanism, ongoing urban centres in China and Vietnam at high-end, luxury illegal sale of scales occurs in China, as well as Vietnam restaurants. It occurs among kin or peer-based groups (Challender et al., 2015; Xu et al., 2016). and among business associates, for instance when celebrating the signing of business contracts, and in Although there has been a rapid shift towards targeting some cases the animals are consumed by government populations of other pangolin species to supply markets of cials (Shairp et al., 2016). Meat consumption is in China and Vietnam in recent years, for example related to reinforcing social status which is important populations in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, in Confucian societies, and demonstrating wealth, and Sri Lanka, as well as various African countries, there pangolins can be the most expensive meat on the remains substantial illicit trade in Sunda pangolins Sunda pangolins rescued from a house in Indonesia. © WCS.
40 41 Social status Cultural Increasing Commercial breeding? Increased forest access beliefs af uent urban popn Lack of Inadequate deterrent Forest rangers: low income, laws sentences Opportunity low motivation, too few Roads & Demand infrastructure Corruption enforcement powers Poor Lack of practice awareness of pangolin status Ease of capture Decreased viability Poor spatial Habitat loss planning Dam Poaching of Sunda Pangolins or construction (More extraction, more degradation Lack of alternative Income needs of deaths, fewer births) livelihoods local people Harvesting Demand for from the forest Pro ts from Shifting forest (e.g. Traf cking products wildlife crime Customary agriculture logging) laws
Lack of capacity to deal Inadequate Inadequate Limited release with traf cking Limited success laws & Lack of political conservation in rescue, sites enforcement will response rehabilitation & release Corruption Lack of knowledge of what Lack of is a suitable release site Lack of awareness Lack of coordination awareness of of the pangolin need for action, status General Lack of and of Limited lack of funding how to act capacity concern Lack of data on effectiveness of interventions Lack of knowledge of ecology, distribution, popn status
Figure 2. Known and assumed threats to the viability of Sunda pangolins and their underlying causes, identified by participants at the 2017 regional planning workshop.
42 43 (Challender and Waterman, 2017). Whilst this change strong indicators of the ongoing role of organised crime in traf cking dynamics might be due to more effective in Sunda pangolin traf cking. Research on Chinese-led enforcement (i.e. in South Asia and Africa), it could wildlife crime syndicates, operating in Africa and East also indicate that traf ckers are now harvesting Sunda Asia, suggests that the pangolin trade is increasingly pangolins from previously inaccessible areas that have attractive; it is has high pro ts, and it is considered as opened up, and/or that market forces and demand are low-risk because it is relatively easy to conceal pangolin causing the trade to shift to areas previously considered and their parts, and because enforcement attention on too costly to harvest pangolins. illegal pangolin trade remains low compared to other illicit wildlife trades (e.g. ivory, rhino horn). Inadequate enforcement of applicable laws facilitates poaching, as does inadequate numbers of law 2.8.2 Habitat loss and degradation enforcement personnel, lack of other resources (e.g., The Sunda pangolin has been recorded in a wide variety equipment), lack of intelligence systems and poorly of habitats including grasslands, peat swamp forest, motivated and remunerated personnel. Inadequate primary and secondary tropical forests, palm oil and enforcement is linked to a number of factors including rubber plantations, and urban areas, including gardens a lack of political will to prioritize wildlife crime and and cultivated landscapes (Payne et al., 1985; Lim, pangolin traf cking, corruption, and a lack of awareness 2007; Lim and Ng, 2008a; Azhar et al., 2013; Wearn, among enforcement personal and judiciaries of the 2015; Fletcher, 2016; Willcox et al., 2017). Habitat loss legislative protection afforded to the Sunda pangolin. is in indirect threat. It results in previously inaccessible The absence of an effective deterrent from legislation areas being opened up making the species more and applicable penalties locally in many parts of the susceptible to hunting and poaching. Sunda pangolin’s range, means that poaching and traf cking takes place largely unabated. Observations of a single female in secondary forest in As a result of these factors most enforcement action Singapore (Lim and Ng, 2008a) suggests that large tree on pangolin traf cking comprises seizures that result hollows are potentially important for breeding Sunda in an administrative ne only, and where prosecutions pangolins. Multiple records of Sunda pangolins in U do occur, they are usually of actors low down the Minh Ha National Park (Willcox et al. 2017), perhaps illegal trade chain as opposed to ‘kingpins’ (EIA, offers proof of this species’ habitat adaptability; this is 2016). Exceptions include instances in China where a seasonally-inundated mosaic of grasslands, open high level traf ckers have been arrested, prosecuted swamp and Melaleuca-dominated peat swamp forest. and convicted and have received suspended death sentences for traf cking high numbers and quantities There are unlikely to be many tree hollows in this habitat of pangolins and their parts. The lack of convictions is (most of the forest is former plantations), and the concerning because it occurs while criminal syndicates relatively large number of records in Willcox et al. (2017) are increasingly organised (D. Adhiasto, pers. comm. suggest that, at least in 2008, that the population 2018). The volume of Sunda pangolins being traded, was ‘likely still breeding. Similarly, in two former palm the use of warehouses as sorting deports/processing oil plantations near the Kinabatangan river in Sabah, areas, and multiple countries being involved, are all Malaysia, plantation workers have observed pangolins Sunda pangolin. © Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
44 45 Conservation resting in branches of palm oil trees (Elaeis guineensis) 2.8.3 Inadequate conservation action which is also evidence of the species’ adaptability (E. Until recently, there has been an inadequate 3. Panjang, unpubl. data). conservation response to address the threats facing the Sunda pangolin. This has largely been due to a general Strategy and However, further research is needed on the comparative lack of concern for pangolins among the international use of, and abundance in natural habitats and arti cial conservation community due to a lack of awareness of landscapes, including the species’ ability to persist in the status of the species, lack of knowledge about it, a Action plan isolated blocks of monoculture plantations (e.g., oil lack of capacity among agencies within range states, palm) long term, assuming poaching can be controlled. and a lack of funding for Sunda pangolin conservation. Fortunately, this has changed in recent years with The expansion of roads and commercial concessions a growing focus and attention on the traf cking of (e.g., for mining, hydro-power dams, logging, pangolins and there is now a greater interest in funding plantations), opens up previously inaccessible, or pangolin conservation action among international relatively hard to access, forested areas which facilitates donors. However, there remains a lack of co-ordination poachers and traf ckers capturing and traf cking and co-operation among different stakeholders and pangolins. This type of habitat loss is not restricted agencies within range states and a lack of agreed to unprotected areas; protected areas in Lao PDR, priority conservation actions. Cambodia and Indonesia, have experienced signi cant losses due to the granting of commercial operations and development projects inside protected areas. Shifting agriculture is also a problem where it results in the loss of habitat. Poor spatial planning, often linked to corruption, is an underlying factor to habitat loss and degradation. There is large-scale forest loss through conversion, fragmentation and degradation, with massive forest loss to agriculture (oil palm, rubber, and pulp and paper plantations) particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia and Southern Thailand, and impacts from the growing number of hydropower projects being developed in the region.
Sunda pangolin rescued from illegal trade in Cambodia. © Wildlife Alliance
46 47 3. Conservation Strategy and Action Plan
This document is intended as a resource The following section outlines a range-wide conservation strategy for Audience The Sunda pangolin range stretches across several to be used by: the Sunda pangolin, for the period 2018 – 2028. This brings together countries. The species exists both inside and outside • workshop participants, as a record of the actions, the results of targeted discussions by workshop participants at the protected areas, in forested areas under varying initiatives and collaborations discussed; 2017 Sunda Pangolin Conservation Planning Workshop and the types and intensities of human use, and around • range state governmental agencies, to help guide and inform the development of national or local action recommendations for action that arose from those discussions. agricultural and urban environments. Though a large and diverse group of stakeholders was present at the plans and initiatives; planning workshop, including national government • individuals, institutions and ex situ facilities working representatives, it was not possible to include everyone with Sunda pangolins, to help inform their priorities; involved in Sunda pangolin conservation and there • non-governmental conservation organisations and Over the three-day planning workshop, • A VISION for the long-term future of Sunda pangolins; were gaps in representation at the local and sometimes community groups, to guide and inform their priorities and following a series of scene-seing • Broad operational GOALS for conservation activity national levels. However, it is intended that this initial and work plans; presentations, participants worked aimed at achieving the Vision; broad-based planning process will trigger further • the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, to help in collaboratively on: • A detailed analysis of the ISSUES currently impacting directing conservation-related research and actions, on the viability of the species across its range or national and local planning in which additional key and tracking and supporting progress with the impeding effective conservation action; stakeholders will have an opportunity to de ne local directions and priorities agreed for Sunda pangolins; • A series of OBJECTIVES aimed at addressing these actions that align with this strategy. With this in mind, and issues; this range-wide conservation strategy includes both • donor organisations, to guide priority actions for • ACTIONS to be taken in pursuit of these objectives, broad action recommendations designed for further funding support. including recommendations on where and how action consideration and delegation by in-country agencies as should be taken and who would be ideally placed to well as more speci c action recommendations already take it. committed to by those present at the workshop. Implementation The implementation of actions in this plan will be monitored and reported on by the Pangolin Specialist The following pages summarise the outputs of these Group, primarily through its website (www.pangolinsg. discussions and the Vision, Goals, Objectives and org). People and organisations carrying out projects and Actions agreed. actions will be encouraged to notify and communicate their progress to the Specialist Group.
48 49 3.1 Vision and Goals 3.2 Objectives and Actions
25 year vision for the Sunda pangolin The objectives and actions developed by planning workshop participants are described below, grouped by The Sunda Pangolin is secure and thriving in a variety the relevant goal. Where a speci c location is not given of habitats across its entire range. Threats have in the following tables, the action prescribed applies been abated and research has provided a better across the species range. understanding of this unique species, which is locally and globally appreciated. GOAL 1: Change consumer behaviour to reduce demand for pangolin parts and products. Goals Demand for pangolin parts and products, primarily The following goals provide broad operational scales and meat, is driving poaching and the complex themes for conservation activity over the next supply chain of traf ckers, traders and consumers. 10 years and beyond. Changing consumer behaviour to reduce demand for pangolin parts and products, as well as reducing GOAL 1: Change consumer behaviour to reduce supply-side in uence on demand, is essential to demand for pangolin parts and products. combat illegal trade. Key actions include understanding consumer demand to develop informed behaviour GOAL 2: Combat illegal trade by strengthening policy change interventions; supporting law enforcement to and law enforcement. reduce the ability of consumers to purchase pangolin products; and understanding traf cking chains to effect GOAL 3: Engage local communities to participate in behaviour change along the supply chain. conservation processes. Note that implementation is not expected to be confined to the leads, collaborators and partners listed in this table, this GOAL 4: Identify and protect areas with important is representative only of the organisations present at the pangolin populations. workshop.
GOAL 5: Conduct research to gain a better understanding of Sunda pangolin ecology and behaviour.
GOAL 6: Establish successful systems for rescue, rehabilitation and release of pangolins.
Top and bottom: Sunda pangolin receiving veterinary care © Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
50 51 Objective 1.1: Reduce consumer demand for pangolin products Objective 1.2: Reduce supply-side influence on consumer demand
No. Action Location Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators No. Action Location Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / Partners / Partners
China, Undertake research to understand TRAFFIC, Vietnam, Undertake research to identify Research the full range of pangolin uses, All stages of ZSL, and Malaysia, Save Vietnam's Research Universities, and understand all actors in the Wildlife Alliance undertaken motivations for use and key 1.2.1 the supply 5 years universities Indonesia, Wildlife, USAID undertaken TRAFFIC, supply chain and the scope of (Cambodia) and results 1.1.1 target audiences, to inform the 5 years chain. and other the U.S. and Wildlife Asia, and results ZSL, and their in uence on consumers. published. prioritisation and development NGOs other existing WCS-Indonesia published. other NGOs of appropriate behaviour change and emerging interventions. key markets. Wildlife Alliance (Cambodia) Design and implement strategies Save Vietnam’s to effect behaviour change among Wildlife, ENV, Strategies Develop and implement evidence- Interventions key actors in the pangolin supply TRAFFIC, funded, based, targeted behaviour change China, USAID Wildlife funded, ZSL, Save chain (e.g. medicinal practitioners All stages of Universities, USAID Saving designed, interventions to reduce speci c Vietnam and Asia, TRAFFIC, designed, Vietnam’s 1.2.2 and pharmaceutical sector, the supply 5 years NGOs, other Species, implemented, 1.1.2 types of demand for pangolin other existing WWF-Vietnam, 5 years implemented, Wildlife, other transport sector, hospitality chain. stakeholders WWF-Vietnam evaluated and parts (e.g. 'status-enhancing and emerging USAID Saving evaluated universities sector, business sector) in order (Vietnam) reported. consumption' of pangolins, markets. Species, ENV and results and NGOs to reduce their in uence on USAID Wildlife medicinal use). reported. consumer demand. Asia (China)
Working Group formed Develop a framework for TRAFFIC, to develop monitoring and evaluating the USAID Saving ZSL, China, framework; TRAFFIC, Strategies 1.1.3 impact of behaviour change Global Species, USAID 5 years University of Identify and implement ways to Vietnam and Monitoring WCS, USAID developed, Universities, campaigns on reducing demand Wildlife Asia, Oxford work with law enforcement to other existing and Evaluation 1.2.3 Wildlife Asia, 5 years implemented, NGOs, other for pangolins. WCS reduce supplier ability to sell/ and emerging Framework Save Vietnam’s evaluated and stakeholders market pangolin products. markets developed. Wildlife, ENV reported.
Identify and implement ways China, TRAFFIC, WCS, Strategies to work with law enforcement Vietnam, and USAID Wildlife developed, Universities, 1.1.4 agencies to reduce the ability of other existing Asia (China), 5 years implemented, NGOs, other consumers to purchase/access and emerging Save Vietnam’s evaluated and stakeholders pangolin products. markets. Wildlife, ENV reported.
52 53 GOAL 2: Combat illegal trade by strengthening transit and consumer countries. It may be necessary to Objective 2.1: Review and where necessary strengthen, legislation affording protection to pangolins policy and law enforcement. increase the legal protection for the Sunda pangolin (as The Sunda pangolin is severely threatened by high levels of well as all other species of pangolin). There is also a need No. Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / Partners traf cking. Combatting pangolin traf cking in range, transit to increase the pro le and knowledge of Sunda pangolins and consumer countries is often a low priority and lack within responsible authorities, particularly the threat from Support range states to build capacity, where needed, No. of training/capacity of capacity and resources impede effective enforcement. traf cking and potential solutions to this problem. This 2.1.4 TRAFFIC, WCS On-going TRAFFIC, WCS within front line enforcement building events held. Existing legislation is often not applied fully and there could be achieved by supporting range states to build agencies. is a need to ensure the implementation of international capacity to enforce laws effectively, by developing and Improve judicial responses agreements, including CITES, to combat traf cking. To disseminating a “pangolin traf cking resource kit”, and by TRAFFIC, EIA, No. of training/capacity 2.1.5 and capacity in range, transit On-going Pangolin SG address this threat it is necessary to raise the priority of communicating achievements through the Pangolin SG and WCS. building events held. and demand States. combatting wildlife traf cking, including pangolins, in range, and its networks.
Objective 2.2: Ensure combating illegal trade in pangolins remains a high priority in international fora Objective 2.1: Review and where necessary strengthen, legislation affording protection to pangolins Monitor countries and No. Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / celebrate successes Partners (e.g., major seizures and ENV, WCS, 2.2.1 convictions) to ensure On-going No. of successes. Pangolin SG Identify gaps in national TRAFFIC continued international legislation protecting Resources secured; report Pangolin SG, Legal atlas, attention on the pangolin 2.1.1 pangolins (identi ed priorities 2 year published on gaps and suggested WCS legal experts traf cking crisis. include: Indonesia, Lao PDR, amendments. Thailand and Vietnam). Review and identify existing and potential key actors and No. of agenda items on legislation initiatives (e.g., WCO, IWT Provide support, where All range states, in pangolin range states at CITES No. of initiatives developed; ZSL, Save Conference process) in order EIA, TRAFFIC, necessary, to range states to other CITES meetings; no. of range states that 2.2.2 On-going appropriate measures of 2.1.2 On-going Vietnam’s to develop and implement Pangolin SG amend legislation affording Parties, quali ed CITES is providing support to on implementation. Wildlife initiatives to maintain protection to pangolins. experts. legislative reform; no. of pieces of pangolins as species of high national legislation amended. priority.
Develop pangolin trade Objective 2.3: Engage with key actors to reduce trafficking resource kit, including; identi cation guide; sampling guide for large seizures Engage with existing No. of sectors engaged; United for TRAFFIC, USAID of scales; best practice initiatives designed to combat no. of companies Wildlife Saving Species, EIA, TRAFFIC, guidelines on handling, rescue Resource kit developed and wildlife traf cking in non- Immediate and engaged (through policies, Transport 2.1.3 USAID Wildlife 2 years ZSL, USAID 2.3.1 WCS, IUCN, and rehabilitation; guidance shared with CITES Parties. traditional sectors (e.g., on-going statements, codes of Task Force Asia, WCS, Pangolin SG on immediate and long- nancial crime, transport conduct, enforcement and Financial Pangolin SG term placement of animals; sectors). activities). Taskforce catalogue of suitable housing facilities for short- and long- term placement.
54 55 GOAL 3: Engage local communities to participate Research into the dependence of local communities GOAL 4: Identify and protect areas with important These include: ensuring that resources are secured to in conservation processes. and indigenous peoples on the Sunda pangolin, an pangolin populations protect sites at which the Sunda pangolin occurs, and Preventing poaching at the site level and effectively understanding of local context regarding awareness Many sites that contain Sunda pangolins are not where it could occur (e.g., through release of trade- conserving Sunda pangolins requires the support and of legislation, customary rights (e.g., hunting rights), adequately protected (e.g., from poaching). A key con scated animals); and identifying poaching hotspots active participation of local communities and indigenous attitudes and behaviour towards pangolins, and local objective of this strategy is to increase the likelihood where enforcement efforts can be targeted on a regional peoples. Genuine, long-term buy-in across the species’ livelihood aspirations, will be needed to support the of detection of poachers at priority sites for the level. It also includes generating support for conserving the range is needed, which requires locally appropriate development of partnerships and programmes with Sunda pangolin. To do so, a number actions need to species within and around protected areas and among community-focused interventions. local people. implemented within a short time-frame. stakeholders (e.g., wildlife rangers and local communities).
Objective 3.1: Ensure local communities and indigenous peoples are active partners in Sunda pangolin conservation Objective 4.1: Identify sites important for conservation of the Sunda pangolin
and prevent poaching at the site level through locally appropriate community-centred interventions. No. Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / No. Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / Partners Partners Identify sites important for Pangolin SG, Research to determine important Universities, Programs for 4.1.1 conservation of the Sunda Universities, 2 years sites for Sunda pangolin NGOs, other Determine the most doing this pangolin. NGOs conducted; research published. stakeholders appropriate means of developed and No. of projects with long-term securing the long term and implemented by Pangolin SG, and genuine buy-in of local genuine buy-in of local stakeholders and IUCN CEESP/ organisations 3.1.1 On-going communities to Sunda pangolin Identify poaching hotspots at Wildlife Alliance, No. of reports produced over time communities to Sunda organisations SSC SULi 4.1.2 On-going and sites using conservation at sites across its national and regional levels. WCS, ZSL identifying poaching hotspots. pangolin conservation at sites who are working SMART and range. across its range and develop at a site with similar systems and implement programmes. eld based Objective 4.2: Increase the likelihood of detection of poachers at sites identified as suitable programmes. for conservation intervention
Programs for Number of sites supporting Sunda Conduct research to doing this pangolin meeting IUCN Green List Range state determine the dependence developed and Adequately protect sites Wildlife Alliance, or Conservation Assured Tiger governments, of local communities on implemented by Wildlife Asia, 4.2.1 where the Sunda pangolin WCS, WWF, On-going Standards. METT (Management organisations the Sunda pangolin, their stakeholders and No. of studies conducted; no of WCS, FFI, WWF, occurs or likely occurs. Wildlife Asia, ZSL Effectiveness Tracking Tool) scores with eld based 3.1.2 attitudes and behaviour 3 years organisations studies published. Save Vietnam’s for protected areas supporting programmes towards pangolins, and who are working Wildlife, ZSL Sunda pangolin. awareness of relevant at a site with Number of fully trained, legislation in order to guide Ensure site-based Wildlife Alliance, Range state eld based adequately paid and equipped and future actions. enforcement staff have WCS, WWF, governments, programmes. insured law enforcement rangers 4.2.2 adequate training, resources, Wildlife Asia, ZSL 5 years organisations patrolling key protected areas Facilitate targeted youth capacity, and appropriate with eld based Local partners, supporting Sunda pangolin across education programs in local No. of students who have taken incentives to do their job well. programmes 3.1.3 NGOs 2 years community the species’ range. communities within Sunda part in education programs. organisations pangolin’s range
56 57 GOAL 5: Conduct research to gain a beer Further research is needed to ll these gaps, including GOAL 6: Establish successful systems for rescue, training and the development of standard protocols for understanding of Sunda pangolin ecology but not limited to: home range size in different habitats, rehabilitation and release of pangolins. care and management, including release. Inevitably, and behaviour. comparative abundance in natural vs. arti cial habitats, The con scation of illegally acquired Sunda pangolins some pangolins will be unsuitable for release to the There remain important gaps in our knowledge of the and the ability of the species to persist in isolated blocks of is an important area of law enforcement. A network wild. Currently there is no consensus on the role (if any) biology, ecology and behaviour of the Sunda pangolin and monoculture plantations. of centres able to accommodate, rehabilitate and that these animals could play in supporting pangolin there are no standardised protocols for monitoring the where appropriate release, trade-con scated Sunda conservation. Clari cation, in form of a comprehensive status of the species or its populations. pangolins, will provide essential support to this work. ex situ needs assessment, would be helpful especially The current network of centres is not adequately to those involved in the management of con scated equipped to ful l this role. Key areas for development Sunda pangolins. are: increased coordination, capacity-building, staff Objective 5.1: Develop a comprehensive understanding of Sunda pangolin biology, ecology and behaviour
No. Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / Objective 6.1: Increase capacity and coordination of rescue, rehabilitation and release Partners of trade-confiscated pangolins No. Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / Range state Partners governments, Undertake research to ll universities, No. of research projects Universities, NGOs, Save Vietnam’s knowledge gaps on Sunda 5.1.1 NGOs, On-going initiated; no. scienti c organisations with eld Create a captive task force Task force Wildlife, Wildlife pangolin biology, ecology and 6.1.1 Pangolin SG 1 year organisations papers/reports published. based programmes within the Pangolin SG. created Reserves behaviour. with eld based Singapore programmes. Protocol Develop standard protocols developed; to guide rescue, rehabilitation Pangolin SG, Save Vietnam’s 6.1.2 1.5 years protocol Objective 5.2: Improve monitoring of Sunda pangolin populations and release of trade- Wildlife, Wildlife Reserves Singapore disseminated to con scated pangolins. CITES Parties
Develop guidance on SG members, other Develop a catalogue of Guidance document suitable facilities for the short- 5.2.1 monitoring methods for the Pangolin SG 1 year individuals with Catalogue developed and long term housing of Sunda pangolin. appropriate expertise developed; Sunda pangolins within range Pangolin SG, Wildlife Reserves Save Vietnam’s 6.1.3 1.5 years catalogue states and key transit and Singapore Wildlife disseminated to destination countries. Seek CITES Parties Range state Sabah Wildlife government endorsement of governments, Department, rescue centres. eld-based University of Cardiff, No. of projects initiated; no. Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Training Develop long-term monitoring conservation Save Vietnam’s of scienti c papers/reports Indonesian Institute of Sciences material 5.2.2 projects at sites where Sunda organisations and On-going Wildlife, ZSL, published; no. of monitoring Develop materials for training (LIPI), One Stop Borneo, Sabah developed; pangolin occur. stakeholders, National University and capacity-building Wildlife Department, South China training protocols published. 6.1.4 2 years Pangolin SG NGOs, of Singapore, workshops, with translation Normal University, Taipei Zoo, modules universities, Katala Foundation into local languages. Wildlife Alliance, Ministry of Natural developed; academics. Incorporated Resource and Environmental no. of training Conservation (Myanmar). events held
58 59 Objective 6.1: Increase capacity and coordination of rescue, rehabilitation and release of trade-confiscated pangolins References No. Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Collaborators / 4. Partners
Capacity Build capacity in rescue building plan centres in range states and On- Pangolin SG, Save 6.1.5 Wildlife Reserves Singapore developed; along major traf cking routes, going Vietnam’s Wildlife no. of training as needed. events held.
Objective 6.2: Identify and fill knowledge gaps in the areas of rescue, rehabilitation and release of pangolins
Pangolin SG, National University of Identify and ll priority gaps Report on Singapore, National in knowledge of pangolin Wildlife Reserves Singapore priority Pingtung University, 6.2.1 husbandry (including biology, 3 years knowledge South China Normal physiology and behaviour, gaps. University, Nanyang health issues and nutrition). Technological University, Singapore
Objective 6.3 Explore conservation needs and benefits for managing and breeding of Sunda pangolins in ex situ facilities.
Conduct ex situ needs Needs Taipei Zoo, 6.3.1 assessment for Sunda Wildlife Reserves Singapore 1 year assessment Conservation Planning pangolins. conducted. Specialist Group
Sunda pangolin about to be released in Singapore. © Wildlife Reserves Singapore. 60 61 4. References
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Sunda pangolin consuming preye. © Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
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