Save pangolins from poaching and illegal trade: Conservationists

BY A STAFF REPORTER, Kathmandu, Feb. 18: To raise awareness about pangolins and conservation efforts to help protect the species, World Pangolin Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday in February across the world. 

In Nepal, Greenhood Nepal initiated the annual Pangolin Roundtable in 2015, which brings diverse stakeholders together to discuss pangolin conservation challenges and possible solutions.

Greenhood Nepal and Panchpandab Buffer Zone User’s Committee of Chitwan National Park (CNP) in Madi organised this year’s Pangolin Roundtable on World Pangolin Day, on Saturday.

The roundtable discussed pangolin conservation in CNP and surrounding buffer zone areas with key researchers, policymakers and local communities to provide a diverse perspective on the challenges of local communities in pangolin conservation, to identify knowledge gaps and explore conservation strategy and policies required for long-term pangolin conservation, said conservationist Kumar Paudel, founder and director of the Greenhood Nepal. 

The event was attended by national park officials, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, Community-based Anti-Poaching Units and local people.

According to Poudel, CNP is known for its success in bringing back rhinos and tiger populations from the brink of extinction, but it is yet to see how this park will also protect critically endangered pangolins.

He said, Greenhood Nepal is working with the park and local communities to understand the pangolin distribution in the park and also to help save pangolins.

Nepal is home to two pangolin species – Chinese pangolin and Indian pangolin. Both species are protected under the Nepal Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, and listed in Appendix I of the CITES. 

Pangolins are widespread across Nepal in more than 60 districts, but protecting them outside the protected areas is becoming challenging due to poaching and illegal trade. 

CNP could be a safe home for pangolins if acted on time to protect the remaining pangolin population and habitat, he added.