Pangolins also called as scaly anteaters are the most trafficked animal worldwide. To raise awareness and conserve the animal, every 3rd Saturday of February month is celebrated as World Pangolin Day. This is an opportunity for pangolin enthusiasts to join together in raising awareness about this unique mammal. Pangolins have been facing severe threats as its being illegally hunted for their exoskeleton and meat. The demand of pangolins comes mostly from china where the scales are used in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) but recently pangolins were removed from the TCM.

Total eight species of pangolins are found worldwide and India is home to two species of pangolins, Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).

Namdapha Tiger Reserve is home to the Chinese Pangolin. Their body is covered by bony scales which acts as armor. Whenever in danger they curl in and hides the soft belly area. The males are larger in size and weigh up to 7 kg and nearly 48 to 58 cm long. The long claws help them to dig and find the termites. Teeth’s are absent hence food directly goes into the muscular stomach. 

They are solitary, nocturnal and largely terrestrial animal. They spend the winter months in deep burrows that maintain stable temperatures and are excavated near termite nests, which supply a source of food. Gestation period ranges between 318 to 372 days. Female gives birth to single offspring and carry it on its back or tail. Males stay with female until the young one attains weaning age. Females reaches reproductive maturity towards the end of their first year.

It is listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN Red List and the wild population of this mammal is estimated to have declined by 80% in past two decades. The animal is protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and hunting is prohibited.

On this World Pangolin Day, let’s take a pledge to conserve Pangolins and break the chain of illegal hunting and trade. 

#WorldPangolinDay #Namdapha