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Distribution and Habitat Aspects Preferences by Chinese Pangolin
Distribution and Habitat Aspects Preferences by Chinese Pangolin
CASE STUDY
REPORT
2015
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Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
It is difficult to appreciate current rates of species loss unless we have some estimate of both the
number of species alive today and their rates of decline. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of
taxonomic diversity has been documented (May, 1988, 1995). So the indirect methods of estimating
the number of existing species have been devised. These include the use of environmental variables,
indicator groups, or higher taxa as measures of species diversity (Gatson, 1996). Environmental
factors are viewed as a key to population persistence because they effect large and small population
alike and nowadays many are human in origin. Such anthropogenic factors include habitat
fragmentation (Harris, 1984), competition or predation by exotic species (Atkinson, 1989).
Unmanaged anthropogenic activities have caused habitat loss and fragmentation is key problems
affecting current distribution and populations of Pangolin. As human population growth and
resources are driving forces behind the biodiversity crisis, understanding the strategies by which
people produce and limit offspring and the circumstances under which they overexploit resources is
critical to the conservation agenda.
Trade in wildlife and wildlife products is one of the greatest drains on biologicaldiversity (Fitzgerald,
1989; Dobson, 1996). However, international laws such as the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are in place to be regulated to control its
trade.
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The conservation of endangered fauna and flora species is an important and controversial issue at
national and international level. Despite the concerted efforts of the independent organizations,
government agencies and private individuals, many species still face the prospect of extinction due to
environmental degradation and the threat of illegal trade of wildlife and its related products (Song,
2003).
1.2 Pangolin
Pangolin belongs to genus Manis Linnaeus, 1758. It is derived from Malayan phrase ‘Pen Gulling’
meaning ‘rolling ball’, while the term Pholidota came from a Greek word meaning ‘scaled animals’.
They are also known as Scaly Anteaters because of their structure and food habits. Having no teeth
and an inability to chew, pangolins feed mostly on ants and termites using their long tongue to catch
them. They are solitary, nocturnal creatures and are known to be good climbers.
Nepal lies on the transition zone of the oriental and palearctic regions, so there is occurrences of both
the Chinese and Indian species in Nepal (Shrestha, 1981).The generic name of pangolin in Nepal is
"Salak” although it has some local names that are popular in particular areas. For instance, it is called
"Kaynaya"(Newari language),"Kose” (Tamang language) and "Hilemaccha” in hill by the virtue of
its bronze like overlapping scales.
There are three species of pangolin found in Asia. Among them two species are found in Nepal.
They are Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla, Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata. Both species
are threatened animals protected by National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973.
Internationally, it is enlisted in Appendix II of CITES (Chapagai and Dhakal, 2002). It is enlisted as
Lower Risk/Near Threatened in IUCN Red Data Book. Animals are listed as Lower Risk when they
are not critically endangered or vulnerable. Taxa included in the Lower Risk category can be
separated into three sub-categories: Conservation dependent (cd), Near threatened (nt) and Least
concern (lc). Near threatened are those taxa which do not qualify for conservation dependent but
which are close to qualifying for vulnerable (Hilton-Taylor, 2000).To protect the vulnerable species,
parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) called for a
complete ban on international trade of pangolins in 2000.
Taxonomy of Chinese pangolin
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pholidota
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Family: Manidae
Genus: Manis
Species: pentadactyla
Manis pentadactyla is distinguished from the other Asian species by larger ear pinna, a post-anal
depression in the skin. And a narrowing near the distal end of the tail (Pocock, 1924).
The Chinese pangolin is smaller than Indian pangolin. It differs from Indian sp. by the 15 to 18
scales around the body. It has shorter tail with a naked tip and protective ear-flaps are the only major
anatomical difference in relation to the Indian pangolin (Baral and Shah, 2008). Chinese pangolin
ranges westward through China, Nepal and Assam. M. javanis occurs in Malaya, Java and Indochina.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pholidota
Family: Manidae
Genus: Manis
Species: crassicaudata
Indian pangolin is found in extreme southern foothills of Nepal. It has large, overlapping scales (11-
13 around the body) on the body which act like armour. It rolls itself into an inconspicuous ball to
hide its soft under parts against any predators. It inhabits the foothills and plains of Nepal, India and
Ceylon.
Pangolins were once distributed widely throughout the world. About eight species of Pangolins are
considered to be of the genus Manis, family Manidae and are found in the tropical Asia and Africa.
However, only seven living species of mammal are included in the Pholidota, the pangolins or scaly
anteaters.
There are still four noteworthy forms of pangolin in Africa; they include Long-tailed pangolin M.
tetradactyla, Cape pangolin M. temmincki,three pointed scale pangolin M. tricuspis and Giant
pangolin M. gigantean.
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1.2.2. Distribution in Nepal
This species occurs within Annapurna Conservation Area, Makalu Barun National Park and some of
Baglung. This species is considered to be occurred throughout Nepal in suitable habitat and elevation
including most protected areas in the lowland.
1.4. Objectives:
General Objective
1) To assess the aspect preferences(North, South, East and West) by pangolin to build their
burrow to live in Sipadol study area.
Specific Objectives
1) To assess the status of pangolin.
2) To assess the elevation wise distribution of sign type.
3) To assess the distribution of sign type with respect to habitat.
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Chapter 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Acharya et al (1993) had done survey to study the status of Pangolins in the Royal protected
forest of Nagarjun from December 23 to January 1. They had found six freshly dug burrows
below Jamachok peak at south facing slopes. They had reported the visit of pangolin to the
farmland during the flowering season of maize, bean, yam and bamboo species in search of
ants and termites. Furthermore they had pointed the display of pangolin’s skin in local
bazaars by traditional medicine men. The sale of eash scale of pangolin at a cost of five
rupees was also recorded at that time.
DFO (2002) has reported the occurrence of Chinese pangolin in its different blocks of
community forest in Bhaktapur district.
Gurung (1996) too had done pangolin survey at Nagarjun forest. He found fifty burrows
along a four kilometer stretch of roadside at Raniban. He had found the burrows in
grasslands. He had noted the similarities of pangolin’s habitat in Nagarjun with the reports
from Tumlingtar of Sankhuwasabha in eastern Nepal, Chainpur of Dhadhing and Belephi of
Sindhupalchok district He had found the close relationship between the red soil and burrow
distribution.
Rodrigues (2011). With population numbers rapidly declining, pangolins are extremely
vulnerable to over-exploitation as they are easily hunted, have a very slow reproduction rate,
and are difficult to breed in captivity. Enforcement of wildlife trade law is critical to this
animal’s survival. Pangolin scales are the most valuable part of a pangolin in illegal trade and
species identification based on morphological characteristics of scales is problematic. This
research propose to apply specialized ancient DNA techniques to investigate the feasibility of
recovering DNA from processed pangolin products such as baked pangolin scales and
traditional Asian and African medicinal pangolin products.
Shrestha (1997) had recorded the behavior of Pangolin in Panauti-Beber area. He found
Pangolin wriggling out at the dead of night for stalking termites and ants. It had remained
active until the dawn. He found it walking about for food over a long of short distance from
its burrow. He had reported the home range of Pangolin in the Panauti-beber area, which is
about two square miles. He also reported that it was able to swim and climbing on the trees
and rocks to stir up tree trunks, soil and mounds of termites and ants, which are its principal
foods and were broken with the help of their powerful claws. While climbing, their prehensile
tail served as a supporting aid.
Shrestha (2005) had done survey on Pangolin in Shivapuri National Park, the nearest
National Park in Kathmandu. He found the burrows in the open forest with less coverage on
south, southeast, southwest facing slope. He had observed the burrows in red soil. He also
found that the burrows were disturbed by fodder collection, cutting trees and livestock
grazing. He concluded that the population of pangolin was in decline state in Shivapuri
National Park and suggested further research on it for its conservation.
Suwal (2014) studied on monitoring of Pangolin habitat and artificial pond" made for
specially Pangolin Conservation because from" the study of feeding behavior of Chinese
Pangolin", it was found that they also drink water regularly with their long tongue. Due to
lack of food and water they settle down near the human settlement and rice cultivated land
then fall on cruel hands. So we constructed two artificial pond in natural habitat (
Taudolchhap Community Forest, Bhaktapur) of Pangolin.
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Chapter 3
METHODOLOGY
To achieve desired results of the objectives of the proposed project following methods was
adopted.
3.3.Transect walk
A transect walk was done along the forest trails and road side in order to record the
availability of burrows and sign type. GPS coordinates were taken at every 100m distance
and the sign types of pangolin were searched to 20m in each side in forest and 20m on each
side of in road. Etrex VISTA HCX was used to record the coordinates.
3.4.Data analysis
Microsoft Excel was used to analyze and interpret the data.
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Chapter 4
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1.Transect walk
In total 16500m (16.5km) of transect length were walked covering forest area, roadside, near
settlement and open area. Among total transect length, 7800m was walked along forest trail, 6900m
along roadside and 1800m covering both foot trail and roadside at Sipadol area. The transect walk
covered elevation ranging from minimum 1333m to maximum 1798m. Survey was done mainly on
day time average 8:30am-4:00pm (survey time varies for different survey day).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/NepalBhaktapurDistrictmap.png
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4.2. Indirect sign survey
4.2.1.Slope aspect preferences
4% 4% North
17%
East
West
23%
8% South
North East
8%
North West
2% South East
South West
34%
30
26
25 22
No. of Burrows
20
15
10
5
1 1 1
0
1200-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500 1500-1600 1600-1700
Elevation
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Form the survey it was found that maximum of burrows i.e. 26 burrows were found in 1500-1600m
altitude followed by 22 burrows in 1400-1500m and 1 burrow in 1200-1300m, 1300-1400m and
1600-1700m of altitude. This might be due to availability of enough food (i.e. termites), dense forest,
less disturbance from human. The sloppy land and less intervention by humans at an elevation of
1500-1600m might be also one reason for more number of burrows being observed.
14 13
12
No. of Burrows
10 9
8
6 5
4 4
4
2 2 22 2
2 1 1 1 1 1 1
0000 000 0000000 00 0 00000 00
0
1200-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500 1500-1600 1600-1700
Elevation
11
4.2.4. Sign type
25%
75%
Burrows
47% New
53% Old
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Out of 51 burrows of the Chinese Pangolin found in the different blocks of the study area, most of
the burrows were old type (Kaspal, 2008). Similar to it, among the burrows observed, 25 (47%)
burrows were new type and 28 (53%) were old type of burrows.
Active
43%
Passive
57%
1% 1%
inside forest
settelement
71% road side
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surrounding disturbed areas in cities, towns and villages fringing with fragmented forests (Samhan
N., 2008). Similar to it this result showed the distribution of sign type was high in/near foot trail.
2% 1%
Forest
Grassland
Roadside
97%
11%
Loamy
Sandy
89%
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4.2.10. Surface condition: moisture condition
9%
Dry
Moist
91%
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Chapter 5
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1. Conclusion
53 burrows of the Chinese pangolin were observed within the study area where40 burrows were
without any scats and 13 burrows were with scats. All these data clearly depict that Sipadol area is
one of the prime habitats of Chinese pangolin. Highest number of burrows was found in North-East
aspect and most of the burrows were observed at elevation range 1500-1600m. Most of sign type i.e.
97% was observed in forest habitat and least (1%) in roadside. The good practice of community
forest management and local people participation helping in the maintenance and increment of
Chinese pangolin population and its burrows. Most of the burrows observed were old and passive
type and mostly built at loamy soil. The survey showed Chinese Pangolin prefer to built their
burrows mostly at North-East aspect and very least at south aspect of the slope of hill. The
availability of enough light, near water resource and less human disturbance etc are some of the
factors that might be helping in the increment of burrows number in North-East direction. The rate of
probability of finding of burrows increase with the elevation up to 1600m and then decrease. The
sloppy land and less intervention by humans at an elevation of 1500-1600m might be also one reason
for more number of burrows being observed. Pangolins are known to occur in surrounding disturbed
areas in cities, towns and villages fringing with fragmented forests (Samhan N., 2008). Similar to it
he survey result also showed the distribution of sign type was high in/near foot trail.
5.2. Recommendation
Some recommendation can be made:
i. Implementation of interview surveys to assess the presence and status of Chinese pangolins
through the country.
ii. Identify key sites with healthy wild populations of pangolins in Nepal.
iii. Use of radio-tracking studies to gain better understanding of survival rates and behavior of
pangolins.
iv. Establishment of rehabilitation centre.
v. Increase awareness and capacity building for conservation and environmental protection and
management, and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources.
vi. National level inventory of Chinese pangolins should be implemented.
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REFERENCES
Acharya P., Rana K., Devkota M & Gurung Y (1992). A report on Conservation status and
Pangolins in the protected forest of Nagarjun, Tiger paper, vol 3, No.1, pp: 35-38.
Caro, T. 1998. Behavioral ecology and conservation biology, Oxford University Press. New
York, PP: 4-17.
Chan, B. (2001). A brief review of the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) in the south
China Region. Workshop on Asian Pangolins. December 2001. Taiwan.Abstract.
Dobson; A.P. 1996. Conservation and biodiversity. New York. Scientific American Library.
Francis, C. M. (2008). A field guide to the mammals of South-east Asia. New
HollandPublishers (UK) Ltd.
Gurung, J.B. 1996. A Pangolin survey in Royal Nagarjun Forest in Kathmandu, Nepal. Tiger
paper, Vol.23, No.2. PP: 29-32.
Gutson, K.l. 1991. Species richness: measure and measurement. In biodiversity: biology of
numbers and difference. (Gatson J, ed). Oxford: Blacwell Scientific; PP: 77-113.
Gysel & Lyon, J.1980. Habitat analysis and evolution. In Schemnitz, S.D. (ed). Wildlife
management techniques manual. The wildlife society Washington DC, USA. PP: 305-327.
Hilton-Taylor, C. (Complier), 2000. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN, Gland,
Switzerland & Cambridge, UK.xvii+61pp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pangolin
Swart, J.M, Richardson., P.R.K. & Ferguson, J.W.H. 1998. Ecological factors effecting the
feeding behavior of Pangolin (Manis temminckii), Research article. Department of Zoology
&Entomology, Pretoria University. Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
Wang, S., and Li, Y. 1998. Illegal Wildlife Trade in the Himalayas. In Report on the
International Meeting onHimalaya Ecoregional Co-operation. United Nations Development
Programme, New York.
WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre), IUCN Species Survival Commission, and
TRAFFIC Network.1999. Review of significant trade in animal species included in CITES
Appendix II: Detailed reviews of 37species. Draft report to the CITES Animals Committee.
205 pp.
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ANNEXES
Date:
Start time: End time:
VDC/Municipality……………………………. Ward no: Locality:
Slope angle:
Aspects:
Remarks:
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2. Plates
20
3. Variation of sign type with degree angle.
50
45
40
35
30
Angle
25
20
15
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53
Plot no Number
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