Every year, the third Saturday of February is celebrated as World Pangolin Day.
It is a worldwide celebration of the pangolin aimed at raising awareness of its importance and its plight.
It is a worldwide celebration of the pangolin aimed at raising awareness of its importance and its plight.
Through this Twitter thread, I would share a few important facts related to Pangolin.
Hope you all will like it.
Hope you all will like it.
They are sometimes mistaken as #reptiles, but they are actually scaly-skinned #mammals.
What's in a name?
The word Pangolin comes from β#penggulung,β the Malay word for #roller β the action a pangolin takes in self-defense.
(UPSC CSP 2021 Questionπ)
What's in a name?
The word Pangolin comes from β#penggulung,β the Malay word for #roller β the action a pangolin takes in self-defense.
(UPSC CSP 2021 Questionπ)
3. They are known as the #guardians of the forest because they protect forests from #termite destruction, thus maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
#DidYouKnow?: One pangolin can protect an area as large as 31 football fields (41 acres) from termite destruction.
#DidYouKnow?: One pangolin can protect an area as large as 31 football fields (41 acres) from termite destruction.
4. They live in a variety of habitats, from tropical #forests to arid #deserts.
5. #Insectivore: It eats ants, termites, and larvae and is often known as "the scaly anteater."
5. #Insectivore: It eats ants, termites, and larvae and is often known as "the scaly anteater."
6. It doesn't have teeth, hence it picks up food with its sticky #tongue, which can sometimes reach lengths greater than the animalβs body.
7. They are #solitary and #nocturnal. Most live on the ground, but some, like the black-bellied pangolin, also climb trees.
7. They are #solitary and #nocturnal. Most live on the ground, but some, like the black-bellied pangolin, also climb trees.
9. Two species of pangolin are found in India. They are Chinese pangolin, mostly found in northeast India & Indian pangolin.
#DidYouKnow?: Maharashtra is the first state in India to have a dedicated action plan to protect pangolins.
Picture credit: @moefcc
#DidYouKnow?: Maharashtra is the first state in India to have a dedicated action plan to protect pangolins.
Picture credit: @moefcc
10. Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata):
It is widely distributed in India, except in the arid region, Himalayas, & the North-East.
Outside India: It is found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
#IUCN Status: Endangered.
WPA, 1972: Schedule I.
It is widely distributed in India, except in the arid region, Himalayas, & the North-East.
Outside India: It is found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
#IUCN Status: Endangered.
WPA, 1972: Schedule I.
11. Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla):
It is found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh, and Southern China.
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.
WPA, 1972: Schedule I.
Both species are listed in Appendix I in CITES.
It is found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh, and Southern China.
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.
WPA, 1972: Schedule I.
Both species are listed in Appendix I in CITES.
12. In June 2020, China increased protection for the native Chinese Pangolin to the highest level, which closed an important loophole for consumption of the species in-country.
13. #DidYouKnow?:
#Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha is the only conservation breeding center of Indian Pangolin in the world.
14. Every year third Saturday of February is observed as World Pangolin Day.
#Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha is the only conservation breeding center of Indian Pangolin in the world.
14. Every year third Saturday of February is observed as World Pangolin Day.
15. They are more closely related to bears, cats, and dogs.
16. #Defense Mechanism (Roll into Ball): When threatened, they roll into a ball, like an armadillo, and they can release a stinky fluid from a gland at the base of their tails as a defense mechanism.
16. #Defense Mechanism (Roll into Ball): When threatened, they roll into a ball, like an armadillo, and they can release a stinky fluid from a gland at the base of their tails as a defense mechanism.
17. #Threats: They are poached and killed for their scales for use in traditional Chinese medicine (however, they have no proven medicinal value) and for their meat. Used in making shoes too!
19. Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online: It was launched in 2018 by WWF, TRAFFIC, and IFAW, to unite the tech sector in shutting down this open route for illegal trade.
20. In 2020, there were rumors that COVID19 emerged from them (yet to be verified).
END.
20. In 2020, there were rumors that COVID19 emerged from them (yet to be verified).
END.
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