Distribution, threat and conservation efforts of pangolin in Nepal

Manisha Ghimire

Out of four Asian pangolins, two species (Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla) and Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) are found in Nepal. Chinese pangolins are distributed from the lower foothills to the middle mountains of Nepal while the Indian pangolins are reported from the Terai region of southern Nepal. In Nepali, Chinese pangolins are called Kalo Salak and Indian pangolin is called Tame Salak. In Terai, pangolins are locally known as Sal Machhari. Pangolin holds the title of most trafficked animal in the world.

 “Today people kill and make illegal trade of pangolins, later we will have to bear with the imbalance of the ecosystem.”

Earth without wildlife is a life without beautiful things. But people's greediness and present state of living have direct effects on the life of wild animals. Every creature has the right to live and equal rights to access the earth.

Pangolins are widely distributed in non-protected areas, near local communities but due to the lack of awareness of endangered pangolin, the illegal trade of pangolin has increased. According to IUCN, 2020, Chinese pangolin are critically endangered and Indian pangolins are endangered while the legal status of this both species in Nepal is Protected (Appendix I) under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 and Appendix I in CITES law.

Distribution

However, with a few exceptions, there is little information at the public level (local, national, or global) about the status of pangolin and there is a lack of research on its prevalence. According to (DNPWAC, 2020); Indian pangolins are distributed in lowland areas of southern and western Nepal. Within protected areas, this species has been recorded in Bardia, Banke, Chitwan, Parsa and Shukla Phanta National Parks. In Bara, Chitwan, Makwanpur and Parsa districts, it is also recorded outside the protected areas. A national survey of Chinese pangolins in Nepal revealed presence of Chinese pangolins throughout Nepal, but they are mainly distributed in the Inner Terai Valleys, central hills, and human-dominated landscapes of the mountains. In the protected areas of Nepal, this species has been recorded in Kangchenjunga, Gaurishankar and Annapurna Conservation Areas, Makalu Barun, Sagarmatha, Chitwan, Parsa, Shivapuri-Nagarjun, and Sukla Phanta National Parks. Pangolin has been recorded also in the forests in the Kathmandu and Baglung districts.

Threats

Due to excessive exploitation, hunting and poaching, the estimated future decline in the Indian pangolin population is 50% over three generations (2019-2043). The current population of Chinese pangolin is estimated to be about 5,000, and it has been observed to decrease when the rate of decrease exceeds 80% in the third generation (2019-2040) (DNPWAC, 2020). Therefore, the main threats to pangolins are hunting and poaching, which leads them near to extinction.

Nepal has faced challenges posed by pangolin smuggling, as the endangered species is smuggled via India and Africa to China. Pangolin in Nepal are used to eat as meat for their health benefits, and due to less knowledge, many farmers believe the disadvantage of having species like this influences them to kill when they are seen.

Conservation Efforts

The conservation and effective protection measures are direly needed for the prevention of pangolin before its extinction from Nepal. All the local levels should coordinate and should organize the conservation activities to raise the awareness of the locals and to control the illegal trade. These efforts would only be possible after the support of the central government and the concerned authorities by visualizing the importance of such endangered species of Nepal. Further awareness and education should be provided from the school’s curriculum highlighting the species' importance and community ownership should be encouraged for the protection and to reduce poaching.

The amended act to regulate and control the international trade of endangered wildlife and flora, 2074/01/10, Chapter 5, Schedule 20 Section 1 includes killing, poaching, transporting, selling or buying of protected species as punishable with a fine of and Rs. 5000 or Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 1 lakh and/or up to 6 months to 1-year jail. But the problem is seen in the enforcement of the act. So, this type of law should be strictly communicated to the local people in order to discourage the poaching and illegal trade of pangolin. Thus, effective conservation will only be possible if the importance of species is instilled in the local people and the next generation during their childhood education period.

 (Graduated from Tribhuvan University, the writer is an environmentalist and is currently working in the field of wildlife conservation)