Pangolins are the most trafficked species in the world. Currently, there are eight species of these armored placental mammals. The word “pangolin,” which means “rolling over” in Malay, relates to this animal’s propensity to ball up when frightened. Pangolins are fascinating creatures that are often described as living fossils due to their ancient lineage and distinctive physical characteristics. These nocturnal, isolated animals are easily identified by their thick scale covering.
Pangolins are found in parts of Asia and Africa and are highly valued for their meat and scales, which are believed to have medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine. There is also demand in the United States for pangolin products. This is particularly for leather in fashion products, such as boots, bags, and belts.
Unfortunately, these factors have led to the pangolin being one of the most trafficked animals in the world, making them critically endangered in the wild. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these unique animals and preserve their habitats, but much more work is needed to ensure their survival.
How does the pangolin look?
Excluding the tail, pangolins range in length from 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 ft) and weight from 5 to 27 kg (10 to 60 pounds). All eight species’ mature tail lengths fall between 26 and 70 cm (approximately 10 to 28 inches). They are entirely covered in overlapping brownish scales made of glued hairs, apart from the sides of the face and the underside of the body. The tongue, which resembles a worm and can reach a length of 25 cm (10 inches), has small, thickly lidded eyes and a long, toothless mouth.
The skull is short and conical in shape. The five-toed feet have sharp claws, and the legs are short. The prehensile tail works in tandem with the hind legs to support the body as a tripod. When threatened, pangolins typically curl up into a ball, using their scales as protection while tucking their faces beneath their tails to shield them.
They are further protected from their predators by their spiky scales. A gland located next to the anus of pangolins can release a substance with a strong odour that is comparable to skunk spray. Pangolins are able to climb and burrow inside ant and termite mounds thanks to their small legs and razor-sharp claws.
Where can the pangolin be found?
The habitats of pangolins are known to be highly diverse, ranging from tropical forests to grasslands. Additionally, they have made areas of horticulture and dense grasses their home. They typically reside in holes or hollow tree trunks. Generally speaking, pangolins fall into one of two categories: arboreal pangolins or terrestrial pangolins. Every species of these mammals is known to be a skilled swimmer over short distances, and they are also known to be nocturnal.
Arboreal pangolins reside in hollow trees, whilst ground-dwelling pangolins build tunnels that are 3.5 metres deep. Burrows are known to be the homes of pangolins that dwell on land. A full-grown adult human can crawl into a burrow and stand tall, according to research, and its depth can be very great.
What do pangolins eat?
Their primary sources of food are termites and ants, though occasionally other insects like larvae can be added to their diet. A pangolin typically eats 140 to 200 grammes of insects every day. One of the main controllers of termite numbers in their habitat is thought to be the pangolin.
Pangolins lack teeth and have very poor vision. Their primary senses of perception are scent and hearing. They also have other characteristics that make it easier for them to capture and consume food. They rip into termite mounds with their powerful front legs. They are built solidly as well. They can dig into trees, the ground, and vegetation for sustenance because to their strong front claws. They catch these insects with their lengthy tongues.
A pangolin’s stomach and tongue are optimally shaped for catching insects and assisting in their digestion. When they search in bug tunnels, their prey sticks even more readily to their tongues due to the sticky nature of their saliva. They cannot chew food since they lack teeth, which prevents them from doing so. However, occasionally while they are looking for food, they have a tendency to eat certain stones that build up in their stomachs. This aids in the grinding up of ants. The gizzard, which is located in their stomach, is covered in keratinous spines.
Pangolin Ecology
When it comes to different pangolin species, gestation cycles often vary and might last anywhere from 70 to 140 days. African pangolins only produce one offspring at a time, compared to the one to three offspring that most Asian pangolin species produce. The newborn spawn weighs between 80 and 450 grammes and has an average of roughly 150 millimetres in length.
At birth, the scales are believed to be silky and white. Only after a few days of development do the offspring’s scales begin to darken, harden, and begin to resemble those of an adult pangolin. The mother tends to the young in the early stages and stays in the burrow with it. When the mother is moving about, it’s not uncommon for the kids to cling to her tail.
But for species that live in burrows, the young spend the first two to four weeks of their lives in the burrow. They first leave the burrow after a month and do so while riding on their mother’s back. Around three months is when weaning normally starts, and around this time, the infants usually start to hunt and consume other insects as sustenance. When pangolins are two years old, their sexual development is deemed complete, and their mother abandons them.
Meet the 8 Pangolin Species
There are eight species of pangolin, all of which are found in Asia and Africa. They are
- Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata): This is the most common species of pangolin, found in India and parts of Southeast Asia. They have thick, overlapping scales and a prehensile tail that they use to climb trees.
- Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla): This species is found in China, Vietnam, and parts of Southeast Asia. They have smaller, rounder scales and are more arboreal than other pangolins.
- Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica): This species is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and parts of Southeast Asia. They have longer, more slender scales and a prehensile tail that they use to grasp onto branches.
- Philippine Pangolin (Manis culionensis): This species is found only in the Philippines. They have shorter, thicker scales than other pangolin species and are adapted to live in a forest habitat.
- Tree Pangolin (Manis tricuspis): This species is found in West and Central Africa. They have long, slender scales and a prehensile tail that they use to climb trees.
- Giant Ground Pangolin (Smutsia gigantea): This is the largest species of pangolin, found in Central and West Africa. They have large, overlapping scales and are adapted to a ground-dwelling lifestyle.
- Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii): This species is found in Southern and Eastern Africa. They have shorter, overlapping scales and are adapted to a ground-dwelling lifestyle.
- Black-bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla): This species is found in West and Central Africa. They have small, round scales and a prehensile tail that they use to climb trees.
All eight species of pangolin are threatened with extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. Urgent action is needed to protect these unique and important animals and their habitats.
Threats faced by Pangolins
The meat of every pangolin species has been harvested, and the organs, skin, scales, and other body parts are prized for their traditional medical applications. As a result, all eight species’ numbers have decreased. The scales of pangolins are made of keratin, the same protein that forms human hair and nails. Kertain is believed to have medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite the lack of scientific evidence to support the use of pangolin scales for medicinal purposes, their use continues to be widespread.
Pangolin scales are highly valued for their perceived medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine. They are believed to have healing properties and are used to treat a variety of ailments, including arthritis, psoriasis, and lactation problems. In addition to their scales, pangolins are also hunted for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in some cultures.
Pangolin meat is typically consumed in a soup or stew and is believed to have health benefits, including boosting the immune system and improving kidney function. Pangolin skin is also used to make leather goods, including wallets, belts, and shoes. The skin is highly durable and water-resistant, making it an attractive material for luxury goods. Post the pandemic, the illegal trade of pangolins, and most other species has moved online. Watch the following webinar to understand how you can help counter wildlife cybercrime.
How are pangolins hunted?
The animals are often captured using traps or snares, which can cause them significant injury or even death. They are also hunted using dogs, guns, and other weapons. Once captured, pangolins are often transported long distances, sometimes across international borders, in appalling conditions. Many animals do not survive the journey, and those that do often suffer from dehydration, starvation, or disease.
The Illegal Trade Flourishes despite international regulations
The illegal trade in pangolins is driven by a high demand for their products in Asian markets, particularly in China and Vietnam. Despite the illegal status of the trade, pangolin products are still openly sold in many traditional medicine shops and markets in these countries.
The threats to pangolins are not limited to hunting and trafficking. Habitat loss and fragmentation are also significant threats to the survival of these animals. As forests are cleared due to agriculture and development, pangolin habitats are destroyed, and populations become more isolated and vulnerable to hunting.
It is highly unfortunate that despite the onset of covid-19, we have not learnt our lesson. Pangolins are thought to the source of the covid 19 pandemic! Despite this, their illegal trade continues to flourish. Scientists have ringing alarm bells of the looming threat of zoonotic diseases due to the illegal wildlife trade decades prior to the pandemic. Relucatance to curb the issue will keep publich health vulnerable to future viruses. The following podcat interview elaborates further on the pressing problem of zoonotic diseases.
How are pangolins being conserved?
Unfortunately, the demand for pangolin products has led to a significant decline in pangolin populations worldwide. All eight species of pangolin are now listed as threatened with extinction, with the illegal trade in pangolins being a major driver of their decline. The international trade in pangolins and their products is illegal under (CITES). However, enforcement of these regulations remains weak in many countries, and illegal trade continues to thrive.
What else is being done?
Addition to aiding in educating the public about the organization’s efforts to rescue this endangered species, special emphasis is placed on combating the illicit poaching and trafficking of these mammals. The potential for financial intelligence gathering to play a crucial role in putting an end to criminal activity is great. But it frequently falls short of compiling any specific information for itself.
There have been countless attempts to breed pangolins in captivity. However, due to their extremely varied habitats and extremely restricted diet of mainly insects, these efforts have frequently been ineffective. These people now have hope that they may be able to breed pangolins in captivity thanks to the advancements made by scientists in artificial habitat development.
China raised protection for the indigenous Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) to the highest degree in June 2020, closing a critical gap for the species’ domestic use. In addition, the government has decided to outlaw the use of pangolin scales in traditional medicine, which is a significant victory considering that an estimated 195,000 pangolins were trafficked in 2019 for their scales alone (Challender, et. al, 2020). The pangolin faces a range of threats that are driving it towards extinction. Urgent action is needed to protect these unique animals and their habitats, including stronger law enforcement to combat the illegal trade in pangolins, and efforts to conserve their natural habitats.
World Pangolin Day
World Pangolin Day is an annual event held on the third Saturday of February to raise awareness of the plight of pangolins and to promote their conservation. The event was first established in 2012 by the organization Save Pangolins and has since grown to become a global movement involving individuals, organizations, and governments.
The day is marked by a range of activities and events, including educational programs, fundraising campaigns, and public outreach initiatives. These activities are designed to increase public awareness of the importance of pangolins and the threats that they face.
One of the main objectives of World Pangolin Day is to highlight the illegal trade in pangolins and their products. The event seeks to raise awareness of the devastating impact of poaching and trafficking on pangolin populations and to encourage greater international cooperation and law enforcement efforts to combat the trade.
Another key goal of World Pangolin Day is to promote conservation efforts for pangolins and their habitats. This involves supporting the work of conservation organizations, raising funds for conservation projects, and encouraging governments to take action to protect these animals.
World Pangolin Day has become an important platform for raising awareness of the plight of pangolins and for promoting their conservation. Through the efforts of individuals, organizations, and governments, we can work to ensure that these unique animals are protected and preserved for future generations.
Written by: Mohammad Thanvir
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