Community-based study to demonstrate the presence and local perspectives of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla in Zhejiang Wuyanling, China

Hongying Li,Zupei Lei,Fangdong Zheng,Shusheng Zhang,Peter Daszak,Ji Zhang

doi:10.11609/jott.5149.12.5.15547-15556

Hongying Li, Zupei Lei + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5149.12.5.15547-15556

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Abstract

Illegal hunting and trading of the Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla has pushed this Critically Endangered species close to extinction. While local reports have suggested its continued presence in mainland China, this has not been confirmed by a research group except for a survey of presumed pangolin burrows in 2004. We conducted a six-month field study using infrared camera surveillance and community questionnaire survey in Zhejiang Wuyanling National Nature Reserve in China, to determine the status of Chinese Pangolins and understand local attitudes towards the conservation of this species. Our study details the first verifiable documentation of two visual records of a Chinese Pangolin in the wild, demonstrating the suitability of pangolin habitat in Wuyanling region, and suggests an increasing awareness and strong willingness in local communities to conserve the Chinese Pangolin.

Highlights

The Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN primarily due to extensive poaching for their meat and scales (Challender et al 2019)
Little is known about the current distribution or population of this solitary and nocturnal species, few studies have been conducted in mainland China to detail the population of Chinese Pangolins (Wu et al 2002)
Active burrows for Chinese Pangolins were identified based on several environmental factors, including the presence of termitarium and decayed wood (e.g., Pinus massoniana, Cunninghamia lanceolate) around a burrow (

Summary

Introduction

The Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN primarily due to extensive poaching for their meat and scales (Challender et al 2019). It receives the highest level of protection from trade in CITES Appendix I (Challender & Waterman 2017). In China, the Chinese Pangolin is listed as a State Category II protected species under the Wildlife Protection Law, with protection from the Regulations on Implementation of Protection of Terrestrial Wild Animals (Zhang 2008). Recent reports suggest that some remnant individuals have been traded in illegal wildlife markets or confiscated from traders, but the provenance of these animals from mainland China has not been verified (Xu et al 2016)

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