The document provides a short insight on Pangolin conservation status in Nepal along with some ecological and biological information of the species.

1. Pangolin Conservation in
Nepal
Shreeram Ghimire (MSc Zoology-Ecology)
Kathmandu, Nepal
ghimireshreeram25@yahoo.com

2. What is Pangolin?
• Term from Malayan word “penggulung” meaning “roller”.
• It rolls into a ball when feel threatened and defends with predator.
• Solitary and nocturnal mammal belonging to family Manidae of order
Pholidota
• Body covered with scales except belly
• Forelimb is provided with three long, curved claws for digging burrows and
hunting ant and termite nests.
• Also called scaly anteater due to their preference on food
• Pangolin bears jaws without teeth along with long muscular tongue perfect
for reaching and lapping up ants and termites in deep cavities.
• Giving birth to single offspring, twin may be occasional

3. • The tongue of Pangolin is very long compared to body length which is
snapped back into a muscular sheath called xiphisternum curling along
abdominal wall.
• They have no teeth but grind ingested food with help of inhaled pebbles
inside bi-chambered stomach.
• Pangolins are prey for big cats, pythons, jackals and even large owls.
• Single Pangolin can consume nearly 70 million ants per year.
• Scale of Pangolin is composed of keratin protein, same as in human hair.

4. • 8 species are found in Asia and Africa, ranging from Vulnerable to
Critically Endangered.
• Asian Pangolins are different from African species due to presence of
bristles in between scales.
• African species: Black Bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), White
Bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), Giant Ground Pangolin (Smutsia
gigantean), Temminck’s Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)
• Asian species: Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Philippine
Pangolin (Manis culionensis), Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica), Chinese
Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)
• Pangolins reside from tropical and flooded forests to cultivated areas
and savannah grassland.

5. Behavior
• Chinese pangolin and Indian Pangolin sleep in burrows but African
Pangolin and Malayan Pangolins sleep in trees with the help of prehensile
tail.
• Pangolins emerge in evening to forage.
• Pangolin scales provide good defense against predators.
• Pangolins maintain their territories by scent marking with urine and
secretion from special gland and by scattering feces.
• Pangolins feed on insects as insatiable and act as pest controller in
ecosystem. Pangolin can consume more than 70 million insects annually.
• Scales of new born offspring is soft and hardens with time. Mother nurses
baby for three months but young pangolin starts to forage on ants and
termites after one month.

6. IUCN Category
Species Status
Phataginus tetradactyla Vulnerable
Phataginus tricuspis Vulnerable
Smutsia gigantean Vulnerable
Smutsia temminckii Vulnerable
Manis crassicaudata Endangered
Manis culionensis Endangered
Manis javanica Critically Endangered
Manis pentadactyla Critically Endangered

7. Global scenario
• Mostly trafficked mammals in Asia
• Most demands in China and Vietnam as delicacy and medicine
• Between 2011-2013, 116,990-233,980 pangolins were killed, the data
recorded by seizures but activists believe that the number is higher
than imagination.
• Pangolins were traditionally used as medicine called “Muthi” in
Africa.
• Pangolin conservation is gaining ground in global forums, where
conservationists urge for strong law enforcement, habitat
conservation and sanctuary establishment.

8. Pangolin in Nepal
• Pangolin is termed “Salak” in Nepal.
• Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and Chinese Pangolin (Manis
pentadactyla) are recorded in Nepal.
• IUCN has listed Indian Pangolin as endangered and Chinese Pangolin as
critically endangered.
• Pangolin is protected by National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act,
1973.
• Pangolins are found from Terai to mid-hills (grassland, cultivated areas,
reforested areas, bamboo and agricultural lands) mainly in ant and termite
abundant areas.

9. Indian Pangolin
• It is called “Tame Salak” in Nepal.
• It is threatened by illegal poaching for its meat and scales, both for illegal
use and international trade.
• It is recorded in Terai region of western and central Nepal below 500m.
• 15-18 rows of scales along dorsal side
• Scales yellow-brown in color
• Daytime in burrows and active at night leaving their burrow in search for
food
• Male and female live in same burrow during mating season
• They have ability to climb with the help of prehensile tail.
• Mostly feed on ants but also other insects like beetles have been recorded
• Smell is the sense, used to locate prey.

10. Indian Pangolin (Source: Google Images)

11. Chinese Pangolin
• It is called “Kalo Salak” in Nepal.
• It is listed in CITES Appendix II and critically endangered list by IUCN.
• It is recorded in Himalayan foothills of Nepal at 2000 msl.
• 18 rows of scale in dorsal side
• Reproduce during April and May in Nepal
Source: Google images

12. Threats to Pangolin
• Habitat
• Clearing forest areas for agriculture
• Development of infrastructures
• Urbanization: municipal wastes dumping in cities of Terai and mid-hill Nepal
• Forest fire: depletion in ants and termites abundance
• Flood: destruction of burrows, drowning
• Possibly: change in climate pattern affecting temperature gradient caused by
climate change
• Illegal trade and hunting
• Hunting for meats as delicacy and medicine as well as for scales
• Trade of animal and body parts mostly in Vietnam and China

13. Source: Google images

14. Conservation measures
• Global level
• Protected by international conventions: CITES, IUCN Red List, where Nepal is
one of signatory
• No international trade
• National/Local level
• Protected by “National Park and Wildlife Reserve Act”-1973
• Pangolin Conservation Action Plan, 2016-2020 by National Trust for Nature
Conservation (NTNC)
• Awareness and orientation training on monitoring and conservation to local
community forest user groups
• Database development: population status, diversity, threats assessment by
University students, ecologists and conservationists
• Conservation advocacy: interactions, discussion, demonstration

15. Distribution of Pangolin in Nepal
• Piple Pokhara and Rani Community Forest of Makawanpur
• Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
• Khopasi, Ugratara, Janagal, Mahadevstan, Panchkhal, Jyamdi of
Kavrepalanchowk
• Chitwan National Park
• Parsa Wildlife Reserve
• Bardiya National Park
• Banke National Park
• Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
• Mid-hill districts mainly central and western Nepal

16. Active Pangolin Conservation Agency in Nepal
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal
• National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC)
• Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation
• International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN)
• Small Mammal Conservation and Research Foundation (SMCRF)
• The Rufford Foundation