TRACKING THE SCALY ANTEATERS: STATUS
SURVEY OF CHINESE PANGOLIN IN MANAS
BIOSPHERE RESERVE, ASSAM, INDIA
(Half yearly report, October 2015)
10/31/2015
Submitted byKuladip Sarma (PI), Anjan Sangma & Bhrigu P. Saikia
Submitted to-
Background:
Manis pentadactyla is known to occur in the Himalayan foothills in Nepal, Bhutan and
northern India, possibly Bangladesh, across Myanmar to northern Indo-China, and through
southern China (south of the Chaiangjiang) to Hainan and Taiwan (IUCN 1996; WCMC et. al.
1999). Recently, due to high rate decline throughout its range, the species has been categorised
as critically endangered in IUCN Read List. However, the occurrence and distribution range of
the species in India is yet to be explored systematically. Although the species has been included
in the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; also included under Appendix II
of CITES with zero export quota for commercial trade, there is urgent need of systematic status
surveys for the species in various pockets of India. The species has been experiencing major
anthropogenic threats in terms of local trade and hunting especially in the western part of the
state of Assam, India. These areas are along the southern boundary of the Manas Biosphere
Reserve. Hence, it is necessary to know the distribution of the pangolin, and its status and threats
in the Manas Biosphere Reserve. This will help develop strategies to address the growing threats
to the species.
On these backdrops the proposed project aimed to address the following major
objectivesI.
To determine occupancy in different habitat types in Manas Biosphere Reserve so that
habitat preference of the species can be known (and hence identify priority areas for
protection);
II.
To understand more about precise nature and magnitude of threats to pangolins in the
reserve; and
III.
To develop conservation recommendations for enhancing protection of pangolins
the reserve.
in
Study area:
This study aimed to identify the major threats to Chinese Pangolin and its precise nature
in Manas Bioshere Reserve. Manas Biosphere Reserve is situated at 25°45′–26°50′N latitude and
90°30′–91°26′E longitude covering an area of 2,840 km2 in the western part of Assam, India.
Results:
In addressing the second objective of understanding the nature and magnitude of threats
on Chinese Pangolin in the study arae, semi-structured questionnaire survey and key informant
survey was conducted to assess the existing threats on the species in term of local tratde and
medicinal uses during May to September, 2015. A total of thirteen (30) villages in the west and
south east boundary of Manas National Park have been surveyed till date and and data collected
from 160 respondents of 13 villages were analysed were interview till date te preparation of this
report. Respondents were of diffrent age classes and there were at least 10 respondent from each
villages. The species has been least seen by most of the respondents in the last 10 years (43.7%).
Most of the respondent of age class 18-24 years never saw a pangolin (82.5%) in the area which
depict the population decline of the spcies. The species is mostly hunted in accidental encouter
(23.5%) as the species is hard to locate in their burrows. 49% of the respondents has ate the meat
of the spcies through direct or indirect sources. Moreover, low percentage of respondents were
agreed to the medicinal use of the species (21.2%) and claimed that they did not know about the
medicinal use of the species (78.8%). Scales were the most used body parts for traditional
medicine (58.8%) especially for exceesive saliva secretion in children. Most of the respondents
who knows about Chinese pangolin (66.2%) also commented on the burrows of the species.
Furthermore, local hunters (6.8% of the total respondents) argued that the species is harder to
find in comparison to early days. 9 out of 11 local hunters (81.8%) agreed to this result. Thus, it
was evident from the present study that Chinese Pangolin population is declining and its major
threats were identified as accidental encounter with human which might be due to habitat loss
and hunting of the animal for bushmeat in the Manas Bioshere Reserve.
However, the natural history of the animal is little known, it is difficult to gather
information on occupancy. There is no information on home range and density of the species
which mke it difficult to determine the grid cell size for occupancy survey. Therefore, designing
appropriate study of the species is necessary to get accurate and logical information. Discussing
the matter with experts of occupancy modeling, we come to the conclusion that the standard grid
cell size should be 1 km2. Another major problem regarding occupancy modeling is finding the
relevant sign (earlier it was thought to be Burrows). As burrows are the discrete structures and
there is a probability of getting the same burrow at each visit to the grid, with the reconnaissance
survey we will try to find some other potential signs which vary in time scale. Another major
disadvantage of considering burrows is all burrows are not active i.e. the animal may left the
burrow in due course.
So, we have started reconnaissance survey in the month of September. Pangolin burrows
identified with the help of local people/hunter is being observed to get minute details of the
animal. Also, four camera traps have been installed in that location to confirm the burrow
whether it is of Chinese Pangolin or not as it is very difficult to distinguish burrows of other
burrowing animals. Once the burrow characteristics are found, other potential signs in and
around burrows will be found out so that that can be used in occupancy survey.
Abstract accepted in SCCS, Beijing which will be held from 7th November, 2015:
Boro, B.K. & Sarma, K. (2015). Identifying threats of Scaly Anteaters: Knowledge and attitude
of local people about Chinese Pangolin in India’s Manas Biosphere Reserve, Abstract accepted
in SCCS, Beijing which will be held from 7th November, 2015.
Additional information:
Some rescued/encountered pangolin in last 10 years in Assam including Manas Biosphere
Reserve. Photographs and information were collected from personal communication and
social media.
Photographs/News article
Location information/ Source
Manas Biosphere Reseve, 2015
Animals are captured by local
people when encountered in open
areas in the country side.
Source: Social media/Personal
communication
Photo: Rustom Basumatary
Digboi, Assam 2014
Rescued and released by Rajib
Rudra Tariang.
News published in Telegraph
(Northeast) on 06/06/2014
Rescued & released in Bhogpur,
Assam 2013
Rescued by Tapu Nath, a
conservation leader.
Photo: Tapu Nath
Two held with pangolin skin worth Rs 9 lakh News Published in Assam Tribune,
2011, A leading daily news paper
Silchar, Oct 23 (IANS): Two people were arrested here with published from Guwahati, Assam
144 kg of pangolin skin worth Rs 87 lakh that was being
smuggled to China via Myanmar, custom officials said on
Saturday. "Five bags of the skin were recovered on Friday
night from a Guwahati-Aizawl passenger bus," Customs
Superintendent Sudip Kumar Datta told reporters here. The
customs officials found the contraband from the bus bound
for Mizoram capital Aizawl at Sonabari Ghat in southern
Assam, 400 km south of Assam's main city of Guwahati. The
detainees -- Lalengliana, 44 and Malneichauna, 41 -- said
they were residents of Mizoram, Datta said. The skin was
brought from southern Indian States to be smuggled to China
via Myanmar, which shares a 404-km unfenced border with
Mizoram. Custom officials also recovered 21,100 kyat
(Myanmarese currencies) from the two. They were produced
before a local court here on Saturday and sent to jail for
seven days. "Charges would be framed against the two under
the Wildlife Protection Act 1972," the official said.
According to wildlife experts, pangolins and their skin are in
great demand in China because their meat is considered a
delicacy and pangolin skin is also being used in the
traditional medicines in China.
The Arunachal Times, 22-04-2010
Chinese Pangolin wanders into NERIST
ITANAGAR, Apr 21: A Chinese Pangolin (Manis
pentadactyla) was rescued on April 16th at 12:30 AM from
nearby New Degree Technology Block, North Eastern
Regional Institute of Science & Technology (NERIST),
Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh by Rai Taning, a security guard
of NERIST, while doing night duty. One of his neighbours
Bijit Basumatre, Lab Assistant, informed Dr. Awadhesh
Kumar, Assistant Professor in Wildlife conservation,
Department of Forestry, NERIST at morning. Dr. Kumar
visited Rai Taning’s residence and identified the species as
Chinese Pangolin (sub-adult male), one of the endangered
small burrowing mammal species. Animal weighted 1.80 kg
and measured 2 feet in length. This species is locally known
as Sachik (Nyishi). Dr. Kumar stated that Chinese pangolin
is marked by large, hardened, plate-like scales. The scales are
soft on newborn pangolins but get harden as the animal
matures. These scales are made of keratin, the same material
of which human fingernails and tetrapod claws are made of.
The pangolin is often compared to a walking pine or globe
artichoke. It can curl up into a ball when threatened, with its
overlapping scales acting as armour and its face tucked under
its tail. The scales are razor-sharp, providing extra defence.
The front claws are so long that they are unsuitable for
walking, and so the animal walks with its fore paws curled
over to protect them. Pangolin can also emit a noxious
smelling acid from glands near the anus, similar to the spray
of a skunk. It has short legs, with sharp claws which they use
for burrowing into termite and ant mounds, as well as
climbing. Chinese pangolins are solitary and nocturnal. They
climb trees and swim well. The species is globally distributed
in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, northeast India), Lao PDR,
northern Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, northern Thailand, and
northern Vietnam. They found in a range of different
habitats, including primary and secondary forests, bamboo
forests, grasslands and agricultural fields.
News published in The Arunachal
Times, a daily news paper
published from Itanagar,
Arunachal Pradesh. 2010
The Animal is rescued and released
in NERIST campus by Dr.
Awadhesh Kumar.
Barak Valley, Assam 2006
Rescued & released by Kripal
Jyouti Mazumdar and Rakesh
Saud
Photo: Kripal Jyoti Mazumdar
Barak Valley, Assam 2006
Rescued & released by Kripal
Jyouti Mazumdar and Rakesh
Saud
Photo: Rakesh Saud