Understanding the Distribution, Conservation and Threats to Pangolin (Manis spp.)

Abstract

This article is based on the study carried out in Rani Community Forest (CF) of Makwanpur district of Nepal to assess the distribution of and key threats to pangolin along with its conservation efforts at the community level. The methodology includes searching the direct and indirect signs of pangolin (burrows, footprints, faecal material). Simple random sampling method was applied for the collection of social information related to pangolin. 130 burrows (44 new and 86 old) were recorded during the survey. Distribution of burrows was clumped type and not uniform throughout all elevations. Most of the burrows were found in the elevation range of 500-600m. Most of the people had awareness about pangolin while only few respondents had seen it directly inside the community forest. It indicates that there was occurrence of pangolin in the community forest. Key threats to Pangolin were construction activities, drying water resource, rapid urbanization, habitat loss, lack of food, overgrazing, mining, deforestation, poaching, predation of associated animal species, and forest fire. Among them the construction activities were considered as biggest threat to pangolin. Various community-based conservation programs were initiated by authorities of Rani Community Forest; however, these programs were still not effective for the conservation of pangolin.