Pangolin
Pangolin or Scaly Ant Eater is the only true scale-bearing mammal in the world. There are eight species of Pangolins existing in the world.
Khawlotsav (Pangolin Festival) On the Occasion of World Pangolin Day
It was the time for “Khawlotsav” (Pangolin festival) on the occasion of World pangolin day started by the villagers of Dugve village of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, India. Khawlotsav (Pangolin festival) was celebrated in traditional manner of the villagers first villagers had worshiped village deity Waghjai for the safeguard, survival and health of the Pangolin species around the world and give wisdom to the people involved in poaching and trafficking of the species. Pangolin replica which is placed near the forest was brought to the temple and placed near village deity and worshipped pangolin replica by villagers. As per the villagers, “Pangolin serves his service to human by consuming insect for us Pangolin is God to us our God is in Nature and we bow to pangolin”. After worshiped Pangolin replica were placed in palanquin and villagers performed traditional dance with palanquin. Palanquin was taken to every household of the villagers were everyone worshiped Pangolin.
The young generation and students enthusiastically showed their interest they present traditional songs on Pangolin and shows respect, love and importance of pangolin through their Songs. At the end of the festival every villagers and people who were present in festival had taken oath and pray to protect species in their region and raise awareness in their neighbor villages.
Currently the numbers of poaching increased in the Konkan region and the number of illegal trafficking incident exposed time to time. In these circumstances in Chiplun Block Dugve village of Ratnagiri District had taken steps to protect species in their village and near by the place. In this village Khawlotsav (Pangolin festival) celebration in traditional manner is the world’s first Pangolin Festival was celebrated.
India is a religious, traditional and cultural diversity country. In this country many ancient scriptures had given religious aspects for the conservation of the species. If pangolin somewhere related with religious aspect and connected with God community will connect with species emotionally and steps for conservation. SNM had tried to connect species emotionally with community through religious aspects connecting with God for the conservation of the species on ground. Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra team only focused for the conservation of the species across the nation in any mode of possibilities.
Pangolin is the friend of farmers, locals playing an important role in the ecosystem by consuming a huge amount more than 20000 insects per day. Pangolin species are kind of Natural pest control for humans free of cost. The species is important element of the nature play vital role in the ecosystem today which is under threat. Pangolin species are troubled in the world as well as in the Konkan region due to illicit poaching, trafficking for illegal international trade which involve huge amount of the money. In this circumstance there is a village in Konkan region of Ratnagiri district named Dugave from the past three years they have been protecting the Pangolin in the village. This year they are celebrating the Khawalotsav on the occasion of World Pangolin day on 15th February 2020. In the village of Dugave, villagers said, “Pangolin serves his service to human by consuming insect for us Pangolin is God to us our God is in Nature and we bow to pangolin and our village came forward to protect our God in our village”. As per villagers Pangolin is blessed and protected by their goddess Waghjai. We are not only protecting species in our village but also we pray for species protection and good health around the world. We will worship Pangolin our god and celebrate Shimga (festival like Holi) for Good luck with the Pangolin!
It is the first such village in the world, where the villagers are united to protect the species and worship Pangolin as God. Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra from last 4 years instigated conservation of Indian Pangolin existing in wild across the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India with the valuable support and participation of the Forest and Police Department. A large number of community education, awareness, and research study on Indian Pangolin existing in wild are going on. Today Pangolins are trafficked and poached globally for the bush meat and scales are high demand in international market. Scales believe to be used in the traditional Asian medicine for various diseases but there is no scientific evidence of it. As a result, international gangs have participated in this illegal act. Konkan is also no exception to it, at many places the Pangolins and scales are confiscated from Konkan region.
Pangolin is one of the most important animals in the ecosystem and it is very essential to conserve the existing population in wild. On the occasion of World Pangolin day villagers will be assembling at the village deity (Waghjai) temple Dugve village at 8am on 15th February 2020. All men, women, students and children will be there to worship Diety Waghjai and Pangolin. Where the replica of the Pangolin will be brought from the forest to the temple, it will be ritually worshiped. As per tradition, villagers will pray for protection, conservation of pangolin. Then the villagers will dance the palanquin on the ground, and then the palanquin will go to the villagers' houses and will be worshiped people there. The palanquin will return to the temple, and the end of the ceremony there will be distribution of Mahaprasad.
There are 8 species of Pangolin in the world. 4 species are found in Africa and 4 in Asia. There are two species of pangolin, Chinese Pangolin and Indian Pangolin found in India. Except in the northeast and the Himalayas, Indian Pangolin found throughout the Indian subcontinent. Indian Pangolin found in all kinds of habitats about five feet long, the animal has no teeth, but with its sticky tongue about one foot in length eats millions of the insect annually. Pangolins curl into ball whenever there are threat the scales of the species is very strong so it has very few natural enemies in nature. The greed of the People takes them in search Pangolins burrow or nest, dig their burrows, and to kill they put species into the boiling water. According to the IUCN's Red Data Book, the Indian Pangolin is a threatened animal, and under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the Pangolin was included in Schedule I. This has given Indian Pangolin equal protection like Tiger. This unique celebration is first of its kind festival and people must visit. IUCN SSC pangolin specialist group member and the president of the Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra Mr. Bhau Katdare appeal community to witness a unique celebration on the occasion of World Pangolin Day.
Conservation of Indian Pangolin through community participation in Konkan Region of Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India
The Habitats Trust (THT) is founded by Roshni Nadar Malhotra, CEO of the $8.1-billion HCL Corporation is aimed at creating long-term strategic partnerships that can help secure India's natural wealth for future generations. The Habitats trust supports through ‘Lesser Known Species Grant 2018’ for the ‘Conservation of Indian Pangolin through community participation in Konkan region of Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India.’
The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is a unique mammal having the rigid keratinized protective scale around their body. The Indian Pangolin has been categorized as Endangered species as per IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Baillie, J. et.al 2014) and is in Appendix I of CITES. Anteater the common name of the species according to its major diet of the species consists of ants and termites an adult pangolin can consume approximately 70 million insects annually which play a vital role in the ecosystem. Indian pangolin is shy, nocturnal, solitary and fossorial species arguably the least studied species due to which scientific literature revealed no valid information about species ecology, habitat, breeding biology, and distribution in wild in the region. The illicit trade for its scales and dead pangolin is the operational in the Konkan region of the Western Ghat has been noticed through repeated incidences. It is believed that a scale of the pangolin used in aphrodisiac traditional medicine leads this massacre but no scientific evidence support this. The meat of the pangolin is a delicacy in some country such as China and Vietnam due to the high demands for the pangolin meat and scales become one of the highly trafficked species in the International market. Trafficking incidences and absence of valid scientific information on species ecology, habitat and distribution of the species in this region prompted SNM to pioneer Pangolin conservation through community participation in Dapoli, Sangameshwar, and Mandangad block of Ratnagiri district, Konkan region of Maharashtra, India.
The theoretical framework will be undertaken by considering the CAP drafted by the IUCN-SSC’s Pangolin Specialist Group. The CAP has stressed the need for understanding the Pangolin strongholds as well as its home range, movement, and spatial and temporal movement in so-called ‘Pangolin hot-spots’ on a very high priority. It also highlights the need for effectively protecting the healthy Pangolin populations in the wild. It also urges to educate the local communities and gain their support for the Pangolin conservation.
To understand pangolin ecology, distribution and home range SNM initiated a questionnaire survey of the villagers to gain baseline data about species and awareness level in the region. During interaction with the community, SNM identified local forest dweller and tribal who inform about species burrow or species active region through their traditional knowledge.
According to the questionnaire survey baseline data and traditional knowledge of tribal or local forest-dweller camera trap deployed. Camera trap will reveal the data about pangolin present status, ecology and distribution in the region which allow us to better understand species conservation need.
Night patrolling at pangolin activity region to better understands species ecology due to the nocturnal behavior of the species. Night patrolling will help to keep a close eye in the region which gradually brings down illegal forest activity in the region.
The local communities and law enforcement agencies are very important stakeholders in the conservation. The stakeholders lack the awareness about its presence and the gravity threats the species is undergoing. SNM undertake education and awareness generation activities for the local communities and the front line staff of the local law enforcement agencies. The activities bridge the communication gap between community and local law enforcement agencies which provide safeguard to the species in its natural habitat and help in the long term in order to chalk-out participatory conservation activities.
Distribution of the specially designed leaflets in the local language to the villagers and placement of Boards with Save Pangolin message to outreach mass awareness in the entire region
Education and awareness in educational institute through lectures, videos, and various competitions will help in the long-term conservation of the species through future generation.
Enhance the skills of the community for sustainable nature-based alternate livelihood and support for the intervention of the livelihood. The local community will ensure their livelihood and keep watch in the region which reduces poaching pressure in the region.
Scaly Ant Eater Save Pangolin Film
Pangolin or Scaly Ant Eater is the only true scale-bearing mammal in the world. It feeds on the eggs, larvae and adults of ants and termites some of which are serious domestic and agricultural pests. Thus, Pangolin serves as natural pest control for the human society. Geographically, there are two species of Pangolins reported in India. One of them is Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata). It is found in almost all parts of India except North Eastern states and high altitude regions in the Himalayas.
Students from United School Chiplun, District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India Celebrated World Pangolin day. Students with model of Pangolin.
Pangolins or scaly ant-eaters are the only true scale bearing mammals known to the world. There are eight species of Pangolins existing in the world. Of these, two species viz. Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) are found in the Indian sub-continent. All Pangolins belong to Family Manidae of Order Pholidota. Although two species have similar morphology, Indian Pangolin can be distinguished from the Chinese Pangolin based on the size of the scales.
Pangolin needs highest degree of protection. Save Pangolin Film
Indian Pangolin is listed in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, implying it needs highest degree of protection. It is grouped in the endangered (EN) category of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Also, it is included under the Appendix II of International Convention of Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In spite of the highest legislative protection, secret killings of the Indian Pangolin are prevalent.
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