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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

  • 05 January, 2021

  • 8 Min Read

Pangolin and Porcupine

Pangolin and Porcupine

Pangolin

  • Out of the 8 species of Pangolin in the World, Indian and Chinese Pangolin are found in India.

Indian Pangolin

  • The Indian pangolin is an endangered animal that is rarely sighted in forests.
  • The Indian Pangolin is the only scaly mammal hunted for meat and used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are nocturnal.
  • Indian Pangolins are among the most trafficked wildlife species in the World.
  • The projected population declines range from 50% to 80% across the genus. Scientists radio-tag Indian pangolin for the 1st time.
  • It is under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  • Indian Pangolin is endangered under IUCN.

What is in the news?

  • The Odisha Forest department has stressed the need for stricter monitoring of social media platforms to check pangolin poaching and trading.
  • Investigations revealed that the accused were trading pangolin and scales online by forming WhatsApp groups in which videos and photos were shared with potential customers, often based outside the country, and details communicated in codes to conceal the transactions.
  • Ms. Lenka said “trafficking of live pangolin and its scales is a highly lucrative business for the organised mafia, who exploit poor and vulnerable forest dwelling communities for their criminal interests.”

Chinese Pangolin

  • They are also found in India.
  • It is under Schedule I of WPA.
  • Chinese Pangolin is Critically Endangered.

Porcupine

  • It is a rodent native to southern Asia and the Middle East
  • Least concerned – IUCN
  • Habitat: Porcupine species has a broad habitat tolerance, occupying rocky hillsides, tropical and temperate shrubland, grasslands, forests, arable land, plantations, and gardens.
  • Range — Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean through southwest and central Asia
  • Threats considered are agricultural pests by locals who trap and use them for food.

Source: TH


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