Local wildlife experts say that the situation is so dismal in the country that its pangolins may vanish in a year or two. With pangolins being traded in the international markets of Asia, there are many gangs of poachers operating from neighbouring states, who enter the reserves in Karnataka to poach this scaly mammal, as its scales fetches about Rs 2 lakh a kg. Humans are their top predator, and at least one pangolin is estimated to be killed every hour in Asia.

Incidents of seizures of pangolins and its scales from poachers, be it from reserves or outside, has been very few but huge between 2010-15 as there is no support from authorities to protect this species. In Karnataka, a few seizures with arrest of poachers were made in Hosur, BRT, Dandeli, Bhadra and other areas.

A wildlife conservationist from Uttara Kannada, who has been tracking pangolins for eight years and holds awareness camps in villages bordering Kali, Bhimgad, Mahadayi and Goa, insists that this burrowing animal is the target of both both locals and poachers for its meat and scales. He adds, “Recently, I organised a camp for 1,300 children and 90 per cent of them when questioned had tasted pangolin meat. The animals are also being poached in territorial forests. The main junction for poaching is Bhatkal-Belagavi and from here, the scales land up in Russia and China.”

He adds, “One kilogram of scales fetch Rs 6,000-8,000 for the poacher while the agents make a cool Rs 12,000/kg. In this part of the state, a lot of poaching cases have been unearthed and people were held, who were smuggling it to Mumbai.”

According to the database of TRAFFIC, a wildlife crime detection organisation, most of the pangolin scales land up in Myanmar, a gateway to China. This is a transit zone for illegal trading of endangered Indian pangolins. During 2010-2014, a combined total of 4,339 kg of scales and 518 animals have been seized.

A source from Born Free Foundation, a animal welfare organisation, says more than 9,60,000 pangolins were illegally traded over the past decade. Adam Roberts, its CEO adds, “Even Europe has been implicated in the last two years as five nations reported seizures totaling more than 1.6 tonnes of pangolin parts and products.”

Animal Behaviour

Little is known of this unique animal’s behaviour and biology. It feeds on ants and termites. Its only defence mechanism against predators is to roll into a ball, which actually makes it easier for humans to simply pick up the helpless animal.

Species on Decline

Nocturnal and highly secretive, all the four Asian species are on the verge of extinction. Pangolin meat is considered to be a luxury product in China and Vietnam, while their scales and blood are used in traditional Asian medicine.