Pangolins: Endangered Species

Habitat and Behavior Pangolins inhabit hollow trees or burrows and are primarily nocturnal. Their diet mainly consists of ants and termites, which they capture with their long, sticky tongues. These solitary animals come together only for mating, with females typically raising one to three offspring for up to two years.

Conservation Status Pangolins face severe threats due to poaching for their meat and scales, used in traditional medicine, and habitat destruction from deforestation. They are the most trafficked mammals globally. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies eight pangolin species as threatened:

• Critically Endangered: Manis culionensis, M. pentadactyla, M. javanica
• Endangered: Phataginus tricuspis, Manis crassicaudata, Smutsia gigantea
• Vulnerable: Phataginus tetradactyla, Smutsia temminckii

Conservation Efforts Efforts to protect pangolins include stricter anti-poaching laws, habitat preservation, and awareness campaigns. International collaborations aim to curb illegal trafficking and promote sustainable practices to ensure the survival of these unique mammals.