Pangolins
On the eve of World Pangolin Day (Feb 18), a not-for-profit organisation – TRAFFIC, has reported that 1,203 pangolins have been found in illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018 to 2022.
*Details –
• Pangolins are among the most trafficked wild mammals globally and India is home to two species:
• The Indian Pangolin – found across the subcontinent and the Chinese Pangolin – found
across a larger area in south Asia.
• Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam see the presence of both.
• Both species are included under India’s Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and are also in Appendix I of the CITES.
• The Indian Pangolin has been classified as ‘Endangered’ and the Chinese Pangolin as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
