Destiny of Pangolins in the World

All around the globe there are eight pangolins (Manis) species out of which four species below to Africa and four species belong to Asia. The Asiatic species are Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicudata), China Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) and Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis). The four African species are Giant pangolin (Manis gigantea), Ground pangolin (Manis temmincki), Tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis), Long-tailed pangolin (Manis tetradactyla). In India only two species were recorded, Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicudata) and China Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) species which are included in the Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby according them highest degree of protection. 

All pangolins have a similar morphology and have a number of adaptions related to their diet of ants and termites including: a conical shaped head, strong claws for breaking apart insect nests, small eyes and thick eyelids, a long, sticky tongue for consuming their prey (Challender et al. 2014), and a muscular stomach with keratinous spines used for mashing their prey, as they have no teeth (Heath 1995). Manis crassicaudata is a medium-sized mammal (weight: 4.7 kg; length: 89 cm), that is covered with 11-13 rows of keratinous scales on the dorsal side (Heath 1995).

The scales are used to protect themselves from predators (Spearman 1967). A threatened pangolin will roll into a ball with the hard, sharp-edged scales on the outside; females will protect their young at the centre of the ball. While able to deter most predators (even lions), this otherwise highly effective anatomy and behaviour unfortunately makes it easy for humans to pick up and transport pangolins. Asian pangolin species have hairs between their scales, while African species do not (Challender et al. 2014). 

Pangolins are also well protected by national legislation in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and China. New intelligence gathered suggests the involvement of tiger hunters shifting towards poaching pangolins because of the increasing price in the international market. With traders targeting areas as wide as the interior peninsular regions, the reach of pangolin poaching network seems to have spread across the country with inter-state organized poaching nexuses involved.

Although protected from hunting by national law in each range State, Manis crassicaudata is poached for local use; meat is used as a source of protein and medicine as well as for ritual purposes; oil is extracted from the fat and the brain is used for medicinal purposes; the scales are used whole or in powdered form as medicine and are used to make curios, jewellery, and “bullet-proof vests”; and skins are used to make leather goods (Baillie et al. 2014, Katuwal et al. 2013, Mahmood et al. 2012, Misra and Hanfee 2000).

In the last CITES 65th meeting (SC65, Geneva, July 2014), the Standing Committee established an inter-sessional Working Group on pangolins with the European Union as Chair, and with the following membership: Cameroon, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, the Philippines, South Africa, Uganda, the United States of America, Zimbabwe, Animal Welfare Institute, Annamiticus, Born Free Foundation, Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Conservation International, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, IUCN, Lewis and Clark College, Species Survival Network, TRAFFIC, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Protection Society of India, WWF and the Zoological Society of London.

All countries strongly supports for up-listing of Pangolin species to Appendix I of CITES and recommends the range states for the conservation of pangolin through awareness campaigns for behavioural change of the communities who are dependent on pangolins for medicinal purpose. During the side-events on Pangolin in the 66^th meeting of Standing Committee of CITES, India strongly opposed captive breeding of Pangolin as it is not showing positive results. However, due to its dwindling populations due to illegal trade and slow breeding rate, India supported the breeding of Pangolins for the conservation purposes only subject to scientific trials on successful breeding results. 

There is no evidence of successful breeding of pangolins born at the facility to the F2 or second generation. Indeed, over the past 150 years, more than 100 zoos or organizations have attempted to maintain pangolins but most captive pangolins died within six months; captive breeding of pangolins is still difficult, and there are no reports of successful reproduction to the second generation (Hua et al. 2015).

Way Forward after listing of all 8 Pangolins in Appendix I of CITES in 17th CoP of CITES:

• Conducting population surveys to assess the distribution, range, areas of concentration and population size which could assist in designing targeted intervention/ conservation measures

• Fractured research on pangolins gives little information on the population of the species, making it impossible to have an accurate assessment of the impact of trade.

• Creating awareness about the need for conservation of pangolins among stakeholders for undertaking participatory interventions.