Abstract
This study investigated records of distribution and population density of the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata in Mansehra District, Pakistan. Field surveys were conducted from September 2015 to August 2016 to record direct and indirect signs of the species, including burrows and faecal matter. Information was also collected from local people through unstructured interviews. Our results show that the Indian Pangolin occurred at two sampling sites only (Lassan Nawab and Paras) in the study area. We recorded low numbers of burrows (feeding and permanent burrows) at these two sites. One direct field sighting of one individual was made at Paras. A low mean population density of 0.28±0.45 per km2 was estimated at seven different selected sites, but for the district as a whole, the population density was as low as 0.00044 individuals per km2. This study recommends initiating conservation efforts in the study area to further understand and conserve the remaining population of Indian Pangolin in Mansehra District.
Highlights
The Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of increasing levels of illegal hunting principally for its meat and scales, both for local use and for illicit international trade in scales, which has occurred historically (Baillie et al 2014)
In Pakistan, the Indian Pangolin occurs in all four provinces of the country, it is locally distributed
The current study was conducted in Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan (Fig. 1)
Summary
The Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of increasing levels of illegal hunting principally for its meat and scales, both for local use and for illicit international trade in scales, which has occurred historically (Baillie et al 2014). The trade in its scales is typically destined for East Asia where they are used in traditional medicines (Baillie et al 2014). This species is distributed in South Asia, from eastern Pakistan and parts of northern Pakistan through much of India south of the Himalaya, southern Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (Schlitter 2005; Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu 2012). In Sind Province, it is reported from Dadu, Larkana, Hyderabad and Tharparkar districts, extending eastwards to Kutch (Roberts 1977; CITES 2000). In Baluchistan, its localized populations occur in Las Bela and Mekran districts
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