General Introduction:

Pangolins are mammals whose size range from 12 to 60 inches. The average lifespan of pangolin is unknown and weight around 4 to 72 pounds (2 to 34 Kg). They are insectivore mammal and generally feed on ants, termites. They don’t have teeth but they pick food with their tongue which are sticky in nature. It has been found that the length can extend greater that their body length. The average gestation period is 3-5 months.

Habitat:

Habitat of pangolin is species depended. They are generally found in dense forest, forested savannas, swamp forests, lowland forests, and floodplain grasslands. They are found generally near the water source.

Status:

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in Asia and Africa. It is because of their delicacy and their scales are of medicinal importance. All pangolin species are protected national level and international level laws. But the rate is increasing day by day. They are enlisted in Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Population Biology:

• Lifespan in the wild –  unknown

• Generation length, 7-9 years est.

• Seasonal/ aseasonal breeding

• Population recruitment rate unknown

• Weaning age, c.4 months

Conservation Efforts:

Organizations Mainly Involved in conservation: WWF, TRAFFIC and NGO’s and GO’s.

WWF, along with TRAFFIC, is functioning in Asia and Africa to shield pangolins and other species from wildlife crime. They're actively trying to scale back demand for illegal wildlife products in countries like China and Vietnam. They're also helping governments mount a powerful defense against the poaching crisis. And WWF is lobbying for strong national laws and stronger enforcement to confirm that wildlife crime doesn't pay.

In 2016, a global agreement was announced that will end all legal trade of pangolins and further protect the species from extinction. Countries decided to strengthen existing protections under the Convention on International trade species of untamed Fauna and Flora (CITES)—a global agreement between governments to follow rules to watch, regulate, or ban international trade species under threat.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin

https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2014/04/opinion/sutter-change-the-list-pangolin-trafficking/index.html

Image from: https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/pangolin

https://www.savepangolins.org/what-is-a-pangolin

https://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/pangolin-conservation-status-challender.pdf