SCIENTIFIC NAME
Manis crassicaudata
Indian Pangolin
Manis crassicaudata
Indian Pangolin
Indian pangolins live in South Asia, across India, into Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and possibly Bangladesh.
Threatened by international trafficking, poaching and use in traditional medicine, Indian pangolin populations are declining. Listed as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN, much remains to be discovered about this scaly mammal.
Key Indian Pangolin Facts
IUCN STATUS
Endangered
SIZE
Up to 148cm (including tail)
WEIGHT
10-20kg
DIET
Insectivorous (primarily ants and termites)
HABITAT
Dry forests, scrublands, grasslands, and agricultural areas
RANGE
India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal
POPULATION
Unknown, declining
THREATS
Poaching for scales and meat, habitat loss
Did you know?!
Indian pangolins display sexual dimorphism. This is when there is a size difference between males and females. Male Indian pangolins are generally larger and heavier than the females.
How to recognise an Indian pangolin
Physical characteristics
Pangolins are unique as the only mammal covered completely in overlapping scales. Because of their scales, which are made of keratin, pangolins are often referred to as ‘scaly anteaters’.
Indian pangolins have considerably larger scales than the other Asian pangolin species and this is how it can be distinguished from the Chinese, Sunda and Philippine pangolins. On average, an Indian pangolin has around 500 scales, with these scales coming in three different shapes: broad, rounded scales; kite-shaped scales and folded shaped scales.
Their tail is often the same length as their body, which they use for balance and climbing trees. Like the Chinese pangolin, Indian pangolins have much larger front claws than the Philippine or Sunda pangolins.
Unique traits
The Indian pangolin is known for its powerful forelimbs and claws, which help it burrow underground.
Indian pangolins have 11-13 rows of scales across their back, which is less than the 15-18 rows of Chinese pangolins. Additionally, Indian pangolins have a terminal scale on the ventral side of their tail, which Chinese pangolins do not.
Indian Pangolin (c) A Khan, US Aid Asia
Where do Indian pangolins live?
Indian pangolins are found in South Asia from Pakistan, across India, in southern Nepal and Sri Lanka up to 1,850m. Researchers think it is likely that Indian pangolins are also likely in northern and western Bangladesh. As the name suggests, Indian pangolins are widely distributed in India, from the Himalayan foothills to the south.
In Central India, Born Free’s partners in the Satupuda Landscape Tiger Partnership work tirelessly to protect habitats where the Indian pangolin are found.
There is still much to be discovered about Indian pangolins. They live in a range of habitats from tropical forests, grasslands, open land, arid areas and degraded habitats, including those close to villages. Indian pangolins have been found in modified habitats and thought to be able to adapt well if there are enough prey species. In some areas of northeastern India, Indian and Chinese pangolin ranges overlap.
What do Indian pangolins eat?
Using their strong forelimbs, which have large claws, they are able to break into ant nests and termite mounds. They are toothless and have long tongues which can be up to 42.5cm in length! They use their long, sticky tongues to catch their prey.
Like other pangolins, they are myrmecophagous, which means they eat ants and termites. Across their range, Indian pangolin’s diet varies. In Gir National Park, in eastern India, for example, termites were found to only make up a small proportion of the Indian pangolins diet, while ants made up a much larger proportion. By feeding on insects, pangolins help to regulate insect populations.
(c) Dreamstime
Indian Pangolin Behaviour & Reproduction
Behaviour
Indian pangolins are generally nocturnal, solitary animals, living in burrows. They are primarily a ground dwelling species but, in some habitats, they are arboreal as they are good climbers, using their claws and prehensile tails to climb trees.
During the day, Indian pangolins will sleep in burrows and leave these at the night to forage. It is thought that they dig two different types of burrows, resting/sleeping burrows and feeding burrows. The resting burrows are used for sleeping, resting and mating and are much larger, while feeding burrows, are often smaller, and are dug to access prey species. The burrow depth will vary depending on habitat but resting burrows can reach 2.5m deep! Indian pangolins have very good olfactory senses (smell) which they use to search for food and to find a mate.
Reproduction
Indian pangolins give birth to a single offspring, although twins have been reported, after a gestation period of around 6 months. The young pangolin clings to its mother’s back or tail during the early months of its life and she will coil around the infant to provide protection when needed.
Indian pangolins reach sexual maturity around 3 years of age.
Are Indian pangolins endangered?
Yes, Indian pangolins are considered ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN. The exact population of Indian pangolins remains unknown but populations are declining. Due to their mysterious nature and rapidly changing habitats in some areas, it has been difficult for researchers to get accurate information to determine pangolin populations.
There are several reasons why Indian pangolins are endangered – please use the drop-down menus below to find out more about the biggest threats to their population.
There are several reasons why Indian pangolins are endangered – please use the drop-down menus below to find out more about the biggest threats to their population.
The key threat faced by Indian pangolins is overexploitation from hunting and poaching. Both their meat and scales are consumed locally and internationally. Indian pangolin scales are used in their whole form or as a powder in traditional medicine in both Pakistan and India.
Indian pangolins have been trafficked to China since at least the early 2000s, with the trafficking today mostly of pangolins scales, however live pangolins have also been seized by authorities.
Across their range Indian pangolins have been targeted specifically for export to China, with this trade likely causing local extinctions in Pakistan. Indian pangolin scales can be shipped directly to China, via post, or along routes from Nepal or Myanmar.
The increase in trafficking of Indian pangolins could be a result of declines of Sunda and Chinese pangolin species, along with increased awareness of the possible monetary value of pangolin scales. Unfortunately, the exact species of pangolin trafficked internationally is often not identified, making it difficult for researchers to know the true number of trafficked animals.
The expansion of agriculture and habitat loss or degradation have opened previously inaccessible areas to hunting, poaching as well as pesticide use. Climate change will also have an effect on Indian pangolins habitats and as temperatures increase, there will likely be a reduction in available habitats.
What is Born Free doing to help Indian pangolins?
There is still so much to discover about Indian pangolins, and this is one of the reasons it is so important to protect them, and their habitats. Find out more below...
Anti-poaching initiatives & increased enforcement of wildlife protection laws
Indian pangolins are protected across their range but further enforcement of legislation is needed. Interventions are also needed to change consumer behaviour in key markets. Born Free’s policy team attend global meetings and lobby decision-makers to speak up for pangolins and Born Free helped co-found the Global Initiative to #EndWildlifeCrime which calls for a UN agreement to tackle wildlife trafficking.
Community awareness programs to reduce hunting pressure
Indian pangolins are present across the central Indian Satpuda landscape, where Born Free helped to create the Satpuda Landscape Tiger Partnership (SLTP). We are proud to work with organisations to promote conservation education, sustainable livestock management and healthcare to communities surrounding protected areas. By doing this, we hope to reduce pressure on natural resources and protect habitat, including on those of pangolins.
Reintroduction & monitoring
the Wildlife Conservation Trust, based in India, one of Born Free’s SLTP partners, alongside their tiger conservation work, also work with organisations to rehabilitate and reintroduce pangolins. Using highly trained dogs, the Wildlife Conservation Trust team are able to detect pangolin burrows and then deploy camera traps to monitor the burrow. Innovative measures such as this will help conservationists and help protect this species.
Adopt a pangolin
The Pangolin Family lives in Malawi, in southeast Africa. Pangolins are one of the most illegally traded mammal species. Lilongwe Wildlife Trust rescues pangolins who are injured, orphaned or confiscated from wildlife traffickers.
Your adoption will help Born Free care for pangolins rescued and rehabilitated by Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, and to monitor their progress once released back into the wild. In addition, your adoption will help to fund our work to campaign against the illegal wildlife trade and protect their natural habitat.