Indian Pangolin: Rare Sighting and Conservation

Relevance: APPSC: Andhra Pradesh Environment, Forest Administration, Wildlife Rescue, Biodiversity

Important Keywords for Prelims and Mains

For Prelims:

Indian Pangolin | Schedule I | Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 | CITES Appendix I | IUCN Endangered

For Mains:

Wildlife conservation | Habitat protection | Illegal wildlife trade | Human-wildlife interface | Ecological balance

Why in News?

A rare pangolin, locally known as “alugu,” was spotted in the Kamalapuram municipal area of Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. The animal was safely rescued by forest officials and will be released into a suitable forest area in the Mydukur range after necessary checks.

About Pangolins

Pangolins are rare, shy and mostly nocturnal mammals.
They are locally known as “alugu” in parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Their body is covered with hard protective scales.
When threatened, pangolins usually curl into a ball and raise their scales.
They have a long sticky tongue used to catch ants and termites.
Pangolins are generally harmless and do not attack humans.
They are mammals because they give birth to young ones and nurse them with milk.
They play an important role in maintaining ecological balance.

Species of Pangolins

There are 8 species of pangolins in the world.

African Pangolins

Black-bellied Pangolin
White-bellied Pangolin
Giant Ground Pangolin
Temminck’s Ground Pangolin

Asian Pangolins

Indian Pangolin
Chinese Pangolin
Sunda Pangolin
Philippine Pangolin

The pangolin rescued in Kamalapuram is associated with the Indian range and is referred to as a rare Indian pangolin in the report.

Habitat and Distribution

Pangolins live in tropical forests, grasslands and agricultural areas.
They may also be found near human settlements, especially when habitats are disturbed.
The Indian Pangolin is found across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
In the Kamalapuram case, forest officials suspected that the pangolin may have moved from nearby forest regions, possibly through the Kundu River basin.

Diet and Ecological Role

Pangolins mainly feed on ants and termites.
They help in natural pest control by reducing insect populations.
Their digging activity helps in soil aeration.
By controlling insects and improving soil health, pangolins support ecosystem balance.
Their presence indicates the importance of conserving forest, grassland and riverine habitats.

Conservation Status

Category	Status
Indian Pangolin	Endangered on the IUCN Red List
Chinese Pangolin	Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
Indian and Chinese Pangolin in India	Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
All 8 Pangolin Species	Listed under CITES Appendix I

CITES Appendix I prohibits international commercial trade in pangolins and their parts.

Conclusion

The rare pangolin sighting in Kamalapuram is a reminder of the rich but vulnerable biodiversity around human settlements. Pangolins are harmless, shy and ecologically valuable mammals, but they face serious threats from habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. Their protection requires strong law enforcement, habitat conservation and community awareness. The safe rescue of the Kamalapuram pangolin shows that local people and forest officials can together play a key role in wildlife conservation.

CARE MCQ

Q. Consider the following statements regarding pangolins:

Pangolins mainly feed on ants and termites.
Indian Pangolin is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
All pangolin species are listed in CITES Appendix I.
Pangolins are reptiles because their bodies are covered with scales.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Pangolins feed mainly on ants and termites, the Indian Pangolin is Endangered, and all pangolin species are listed in CITES Appendix I.

Statement 4 is incorrect because pangolins are mammals, not reptiles.