Observations of Live Individuals and Predicted Suitable Habitat for Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) in Guangdong, China

Abstract

Due to overexploitation and habitat loss, the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is in such extreme decline that it is so rare in the wild as to be considered functionally extinct, even in Guangdong, which was historically a major distribution area for the species. This study sought to verify whether functional extinction has occurred using observation records from field surveys, infrared wildlife cameras, rescue and enforcement cases and the published literature. The results indicated that suitable habitat occurred within 63.4% of the forested land in Guangdong, but only 17.6% of this area was deemed highly suitable, and 82.3% of all suitable habitat occurred outside of protected areas. Thus, the Chinese pangolin is not yet functionally extinct in Guangdong, but urgent conservation and restoration actions must be taken to ensure its persistence. Chinese pangolins in Guangdong Province are primarily distributed in the Lianhua Mountain and Nanling Mountains, with 91.6% belonging to a single population. From 1980 to 2020, the urban area increased by 776 km2, largely via conversion from agricultural land (48.6%). Suitable habitat for Chinese pangolins was reduced and became more fragmented over this time period, highlighting the urgent need for the establishment of protected areas, habitat restoration and cooperation with local residents.