Developing an ecology-based conservation strategy for the Indian Pangolin

Through this project, WCT aims to understand the ecology of the elusive and endangered Indian pangolin and develop an effective rehabilitation plan for the rescued/confiscated individuals to ensure better survival rates in the wild. WCT, in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department (MPFD), started this unique field project in 2019. The project focuses on increasing the rate of successful rehabilitation of seized pangolins, and involves collecting spatial, ecological, and behavioural data from the radio-tagged wild and rehabilitated pangolins, as well as mapping pangolin occurrence using trained detection dogs. WCT and MPFD have radio-tagged and released several rescued, confiscated and wild caught Indian pangolins, in Satpura and Pench tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh. They are being continuously monitored in the wild with the help of radio-telemetry. The camera trap data has been providing us with some very rare insight into the breeding, rearing, and parental behaviours of the Indian pangolin. Some of the rescued and radio-tagged individuals have also begun to breed in the wild. This is highly encouraging as successful breeding of rehabilitated individuals will have a positive impact on the population.