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Protection of endangered pangolin

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Environment
  • Published
    25th Feb, 2021

Context

In the Eastern Ghats, a small movement, to protect the endangered pangolin, is underway which includes the awareness generation, protection from poaching and collaborating for protection.

What is the new project?

  • The Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society (EGWS), in collaboration with Save Pangolins and Pangolin Crisis Fund USA initiated an immediate conservation status survey to acquire vital data on the presence/absence of the species and specific human-induced threats.
  • The project area is mainly human-dominated landscapes and unprotected forest patches where Pangolins inhabit.
  • The main goal of the project is to generate baseline data on the distribution of Indian pangolins in Northern Andhra Pradesh.

About Pangolin

  • Pangolins are solitary and primarily nocturnal animals.
  • Also known as scaly anteaters, they belong to the Mammals
  • Pangolins have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin; they are the only known mammals with this feature.
  • It lives in hollow trees and burrows.
  • Eight species of pangolins are found on two continents namely Africa and Asia. They range from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.
    • Four species live in Africa:
      • Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla)
      • White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis)
      • Giant Ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea)
      • Temminck's Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)
    • Four species found in Asia:
      • Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
      • Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis)
      • Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica)
      • Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)

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