Pangolin

Why is in news? Over 1,000 pangolins poached and trafficked in India in past five years

Pangolins are scaly anteater mammals and they have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin. They are the only known mammals with this feature.

It uses these scales as armour to defend itself against predators by rolling into a ball when threatened.

Insectivore- Pangolins are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites, which they capture using their long tongues.

Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are found in India.

Indian Pangolin is a large anteater covered by 11-13 rows of scales on the back.

A terminal scale is also present on the lower side of the tail of the Indian Pangolin, which is absent in the Chinese Pangolin.

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

Chinese Pangolin is found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China.

The threats to Pangolins in India are hunting and poaching for local consumptive use (e.g. as a protein source and traditional medicine) and international trade for its meat and scales in East and South East Asian countries, particularly China and Vietnam.

They are believed to be the world’s most trafficked mammal.

Conservation Status: Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I, IUCN Red List: Indian Pangolin - Endangered, Chinese Pangolin is ‘critically endangered’, CITES: Appendix I