World Pangolin Day

The Sangtam community in Nagaland resolved to protect pangolins along the India–Myanmar border. The move strengthens community-led conservation of one of the world’s most trafficked mammals.

Pangolins :

Dimension	Key Details
Taxonomic Group	Mammals covered in keratin scales and also known as scaly anteaters
Global Species	Eight species comprising four Asian and four African species
Indian Species	Indian Pangolin and Chinese Pangolin
Distribution in India	Indian Pangolin across the subcontinent and Chinese Pangolin in the Northeast region
Habitat	Tropical forests and grasslands across Africa and Asia
Behaviour	Nocturnal, burrowing and insectivorous; rolls into a protective ball when threatened
Diet	Feeds on ants, termites and larvae
Uniqueness	Only mammals wholly covered in keratin scales
Threats	Poaching, illegal wildlife trade, habitat fragmentation and cross-border trafficking
IUCN Status	Indian Pangolin – Endangered; Chinese Pangolin – Critically Endangered
Legal Protection	Listed in CITES Appendix I and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
International Day	World Pangolin Day observed on the third Saturday of February