In News: A live pangolin was rescued by the Special Task Force (STF), a specialised team of the Odisha crime branch that deals with wildlife crimes from a village in Cuttack district April 16, 2021.
India’s pangolins
- The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are two of the eight pangolin species found in India.
- A large anteater with 11-13 rows of scales on its back, the Indian Pangolin is a large anteater.
- The Indian Pangolin also has a terminal scale on the lower side of its tail, which the Chinese Pangolin lacks.
Habitat
- The Indian Pangolin is found across India, with the exception of the arid regions, the high Himalayas, and the north-east. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are also home to the species.
- The Chinese Pangolin can be found in the Himalayan foothills of Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh, and Southern China.
Protection Status
- IUCN Red List
- Indian Pangolin: Endangered
- Chinese Pangolin: Critically Endangered
- Both these species are protected and are listed under the Schedule I Part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Eight species of pangolins
- Eight species of pangolins are found on two continents. 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) and Temminck’s Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii).
The four species found in Asia: Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis), Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) and the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla).
Source: DownToEarth
