Indian Pangolin in Lamjung Requires Urgent Attention

Abstract

The Indian pangolin is an endangered mammal in Nepal, with minimal research on its distribution, population, and habitat, especially compared to the Chinese pangolin. This study aimed to document the presence of Indian pangolin in Lamjung District, Nepal, and public perceptions toward the species. A preliminary field visit identified potential sites in Rainas municipality. Three transects were established and one active and two inactive burrows of Indian pangolin were found. They occurred at an elevation of 530m in areas with moderate crown and ground cover (26%-50%), a 25° slope, and predominantly red soil, which indicate habitat that is well‐suited for the Indian pangolin. Past rescue operations and confirmed sightings by villagers with a keen interest in species conservation further supports the presence of Indian pangolin in the area. These findings underscore the need for further studies, strategic planning, and conservation measures for the long‐term survival of this endangered species.

Keywords

burrow / conservation / endangered / mid-elevation hills / Nepal

References

[1] Acharya, S., H. P. Sharma, R. Bhattarai, B. Poudyal, S. Sharma, and S. Upadhaya. 2021. “Distribution and Habitat Preferences of the Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla (Mammalia: Manidae) in the Mid-Hills of Nepal.” Journal of Threatened Taxa 13: 18959-18966. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3952.13.8.18959-18966.

[2] Akrim, F., T. Mahmood, R. Hussain, and S. Qasim. 2017. “Distribution Pattern, Population Estimation and Threats to the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae) in and Around Pir Lasura National Park, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan.” Journal of Threatened Taxa 9, no. 3: 9920-9927.

[3] Akrim, F., T. Mahmood, and M. Rais. 2017. “Distribution, Threats, and Conservation of Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) in and Around Pir Lasura National Park, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir, Pakistan.” Turkish Journal of Zoology 41: 1147-1154. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1704-19.

[4] Bhandari, N., and M. K. Chalise. 2014. “Habitat and Distribution of Indian Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla Linnaeus, 1758) in Nagarjun Forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal.” Nepalese Journal of Zoology 2: 18-25.

[5] Challender, D., C. Waterman, and J. Baillie. 2014. Scaling Up Pangolin Conservation. IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group. http://www.pangolinsg.org/conservation/.

[6] Challender, D., S. Wu, and P. Kaspal, et al. 2019. Manis pentadactyla. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. e.T12764A123585318. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12764A123585318.en.

[7] CITES. 2020. “CITES Appendices I, II, and III 28 August 2020”. https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/app/2020/E-Appendices-2020-08-28.pdf.

[8] Damerell, P., C. Howe, and E. J. Milner-Gulland. 2013. “Child-Orientated Environmental Education Influences Adult Knowledge and Household Behaviour.” Environmental Research Letters 8, no. 1: 015016.

[9] Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Department of Forests. 2018. Pangolin Conservation Action Plan for Nepal (2018−2022). Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Department of Forests.

[10] Dhami, B., B. Neupane, B. P. Devkota, et al. 2023. “Factors Affecting the Occupancy of Chinese Pangolins (Manis pentadactyla) Suggest a Highly Specialized Ecological Niche.” Ecosphere 14, no. 1: e4356.

[11] Dorji, D. 2017. Distribution, Habitat use, Threats and Conservation of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis Pentadactyla) in Samtse District. Bhutan. UK: Rufford Foundation.

[12] Edirisinghe, E. A. P. N., K. P. Ariyadasa, and R. P. D. S. Chandani. 2012. “Forest Cover Assessment in Sri Lanka.” The Sri Lankan Forester 34: 1-12.

[13] Government of Nepal. 1973. National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. Nepal: The Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal.

[14] Gu, T. T., H. Wu, F. Yang, et al. 2023. “Genomic Analysis Reveals a Cryptic Pangolin Species.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 120, no. 40: e2304096120.

[15] Heath, M. E. 1995. “Manis crassicaudata.” Mammalian Species 513: 1-4.

[16] Heath, M. E., and S. L. Vanderlip. 1988. “Biology, Husbandry, and Veterinary Care of Captive Chinese Pangolins (Manis pentadactyla).” Zoo Biology 7, no. 4: 293-312.

[17] Heighton, S. P., and P. Gaubert. 2021. “A Timely Systematic Review on Pangolin Research, Commercialization, and Popularization to Identify Knowledge Gaps and Produce Conservation Guidelines.” Biological Conservation 256: 109042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109042.

[18] Ingram, D. J., D. Willcox, and D. W. S. Challender. 2019. “Evaluation of the Application of Methods Used to Detect and Monitor Selected Mammalian Taxa to Pangolin Monitoring.” Global Ecology and Conservation 18: e00632.

[19] Israel, S., T. Sinclair, B. Grewal, and H. J. Hoefer. 1987. Indian Wildlife. Hong Kong: APA Productions (HK) Ltd, 363.

[20] Jnawali, S. R., H. S. Baral, S. Lee, et al. 2011. The Status of Nepal Mammals: The National Red List Series. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

[21] Kahn, P. H., and S. R. Kellert. 2002. Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations. MIT Press.

[22] Karawita, H., P. Perera, N. Dayawansa, and S. Dias. 2020. “Dietary Composition and Foraging Habitats of the Indian Pangolin (Manis Crassicaudata) in a Tropical Lowland Forest-Associated Landscape in Southwest Sri Lanka.” Global Ecology and Conservation 21: e00880.

[23] Karawita, H., P. Perera, P. Gunawardane, and N. Dayawansa. 2018. “Habitat Preference and Den Characterization of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in a Tropical Lowland Forested Landscape of Southwest Sri Lanka.” PLoS One 13, no. 11: e0206082.

[24] Katuwal, H. B., K. R. Neupane, D. Adhikari, M. Sharma, and S. Thapa. 2015. “Pangolins in Eastern Nepal: Trade and Ethno-Medicinal Importance.” Journal of Threatened Taxa 7: 7563-7567. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o4202.7563-7.

[25] Koirala, R. K., A. Aryal, A. Parajuli, and A. David. 2012. “Human-Common Leopard (Panthera pardus) Conflict in Lower Belt of Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal.” Journal of Research in Conservation Biology 1: 5-12.

[26] Liu, Z. H., and L. H. Xu. 1981. “Pangolin's Habits and Its Resource Protection.” Chinese Journal of Zoology 16, no. 1: 40-41.

[27] Mahmood, T., F. Akrim, N. Irshad, et al. 2019. “Distribution and Illegal Killing of the Endangered Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata on the Potohar Plateau, Pakistan.” Oryx 53, no. 1: 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000023.

[28] Mahmood, T., S. Andleeb, and F. Akrim. 2021. “Habitat Preference of the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Inhabiting Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan.” Journal of Threatened Taxa 13, no. 5: 18148-18155.

[29] Mahmood, T., R. Hussain, N. Irshad, F. Akrim, and M. S. Nadeem. 2019. “Habitat Preference and Population Estimates of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in District Chakwal of Potohar Plateau, Pakistan.” Mammalia 83, no. 4: 381-389. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2017-0011.

[30] Mahmood, T., N. Irshad, and R. Hussain. 2014. “Habitat Preference and Population Estimates of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in District Chakwal of Potohar Plateau, Pakistan.” Russian Journal of Ecology 45, no. 1: 70-75. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413614010081.

[31] Mohapatra, R. K., and S. Panda. 2014. “Husbandry, Behaviour and Conservation Breeding of Indian Pangolin.” Folia Zoologica 63, no. 2: 73-80.

[32] Nash, H. C., M. H. Wong, and S. T. Turvey. 2016. “Using Local Ecological Knowledge to Determine Status and Threats of the Critically Endangered Chinese pangolin (Manis Pentadactyla) in Hainan, China.” Biological Conservation 196: 189-195.

[33] Newton, P. 2007. “Potential Applications of Hunters Knowledge for the Conservation of Pangolins in Vietnam.” Doctoral dissertation, Msc. Thesis. Norwich: University of East Anglia.

[34] Panta, M., B. Dhami, B. Shrestha, et al. 2023. “Habitat Preference and Distribution of Chinese Pangolin and People's Attitude to Its Conservation in Gorkha District, Nepal.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1081385.

[35] Prater, S. 1980. The Book of Indian Animals. 324. Mumbai: Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press.

[36] Pur, J., A. Tilker, and S. Trageser. 2020. “The Role of Environmental Education in the Conservation of Endangered Species.” Journal of Environmental Education 51, no. 3: 221-230.

[37] Roberts, T. J. 1977. The Mammals of Pakistan. London/Tonbridge: Ernest Benn.

[38] Sharma, S., H. P. Sharma, C. Chaulagain, H. B. Katuwal, and J. L. Belant. 2020a. “Estimating Occupancy of Chinese Pangolin (Manis Pentadactyla) in a Protected and Non-Protected Area of Nepal.” Ecology and Evolution 10, no. 10: 4303-4313.

[39] Sharma, S., H. P. Sharma, H. B. Katuwal, and J. L. Belant. 2020b. “Knowledge of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis Pentadactyla) by Local People in Sindhupalchok, Nepal.” Global Ecology and Conservation 23: e01052.

[40] Shrestha, A., S. Bhattarai, B. Shrestha, and N. P. Koju. 2021. “Factors Influencing the Habitat Choice of Pangolins (Manis spp.) in low Land of Nepal.” Ecology and Evolution 11, no. 21: 14689-14696.

[41] Smith, R. J., D. Veríssimo, N. Leader-Williams, R. M. Cowling, and A. T. Knight. 2020. “Evaluating the Impact of Conservation Awareness Campaigns on Local Communities in Biodiversity Hotspots.” Conservation Biology 34, no. 5: 1247-1257.

[42] Suwal, R. N., S. Basnet, K. Thapa, S. Shrestha, and M. Khadka. 2020. “Pangolins and Their Conservation Status in Nepal.” Journal of Threatened Taxa 12, no. 5: 15575-15583. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5966.12.5.15575-15583.

[43] Suwal, T. L. 2011. “Status, Distribution, Behaviour and Conservation of Pangolins in Private and Community Forest of Balthali in Kavre, Nepal.” Ph.D. thesis, Tribhuwan University.

[44] Suwal, T. L., S. Gurung, M. Bakhunchhe Shrestha, D. J. Ingram, and K. J. C. Pei. 2022. “Human Dimensions of Pangolin Conservation: Indigenous and Local Knowledge, Ethnozoological Uses, and Willingness of Rural Communities to Enhance Pangolin Conservation in Nepal.” Journal of Ethnobiology 42: 1-18. https://doi.org/10.2993/0278-0771-42.3.7.

[45] Suwal, T. L., A. Thapa, S. Gurung, et al. 2020. “Predicting the Potential Distribution and Habitat Variables Associated With Pangolins in Nepal.” Global Ecology and Conservation 23: e01049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01049.

[46] Swart, J. M., P. R. K. Richardson, and J. W. H. Ferguson. 1999. “Ecological Factors Affecting the Feeding Behaviour of pangolins (Manis temminckii).” Journal of Zoology 247: 281-292. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00992.x.

[47] Waseem, M., B. Khan, T. Mahmood, et al. 2020. “Occupancy, Habitat Suitability and Habitat Preference of Endangered Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Potohar Plateau and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.” Global Ecology and Conservation 23: e01135.

[48] Willcox, D., H. C. Nash, S. Trageser, et al. 2019. “Evaluating Methods for Detecting and Monitoring Pangolin (Pholidata: Manidae) Populations.” Global Ecology and Conservation 17: e00539. Elsevier.

[49] Wilson, G. J., and R. J. Delahay. 2001. “A Review of Methods to Estimate the Abundance of Terrestrial Carnivores Using Field Signs and Observation.” Wildlife Research 28, no. 2: 151-164.

[50] Wu, S., G. Ma, H. Chen, Z. Xu, Y. Li, and N. Liu. 2004. “A Preliminary Study on Burrow Ecology of Manis pentadactyla.” [In Chinese.] Ying yong sheng tai xue bao 15, no. 3: 401-407.

[51] Yang, H., R. Harrison, Z. F. Yi, E. Goodale, M. X. Zhao, and J. C. Xu. 2015. “Changing Perceptions of Forest Value and Attitudes Toward Management of a Recently Established Nature Reserve: A Case Study in Southwest China.” Forests 6: 3136-3164. https://doi.org/10.3390/f6093136.

[52] Zhang, Y., H. Gao, H. Dou, et al. 2024. “Severe Disturbance of Chinese Pangolins Caused by Free-Ranging Domestic Dogs in Unprotected Areas.” Diversity 16, no. 7: 386.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Author(s). Wildlife Letters published by Northeast Forestry University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.