Chinese Pangolin
Critically Endangered
Population
The estimated population is around 50,000
Size
Chinese Pangolin’s grow anywhere between 65 to 95 centimetres in length, head to tail
Weight
The weight of the species ranges between 2 to 7 kilograms
Countries
China, India, Nepal, Taiwan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam
Distribution
The species is native a lot of Asian countries. Found from the Himalayas in Nepal and Bhutan, through the north reaches of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and through southern China.
Description
The Chinese Pangolin resembles a scaly ant-eater. The head and body range between 40 to 58 centimetres, while the tail can reach up to 38 centimetres. The species has 18 overlapping rows of scales on its body which are also accompanies by hair, which is very unusual. The species sports a pointed head which has a small narrow mouth. The feet will eventually grow in claws and the animals get older.
Quick Facts
Key behaviour of the Chinese Pangolin includes:
- The species breeds during April and May
- Newborns weigh 93 grams and are around 45 centimetres in length
- The species is very non-aggressive and will curl up into a ball to protect itself. It will protect its young in this manner as the scales will protect it from predators
- The species moves very slowly
- The species is nocturnal
The diet of the Chinese Pangolin is made up of insects, mostly specific types of Termites and Ants. They use claws to dig into the mounds and nests to gain access to its prey
The habitat of the Chinese Pangolin consists of:
- Primary and secondary tropical forests
- Bamboo forests
- Limestone forests
- Broadleaf forests
- Coniferous forests
- Agricultural fields
- Grasslands
The major threat which faces the Chinese Pangolin is poaching. All pangolin species combined make the species the most illegally trafficked animal in the world today with an estimate 300 taken from the wild every single day.
To complicate matters, the species is also very difficult to breed within captivity as the species of insects they eat are very particular.
Conservation Efforts
The Chinese Pangolin is protected in many countries and is illegal to trade any part of the animal. There are numerous conservation efforts trying to protect the Chinese Pangolin such as SSC Pangolin Specialist Group which are monitoring populations and creating an index of all pangolin products so it can be more readily policed.
