Critically endangered Pangolin rescued - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Critically endangered Pangolin rescued

Hindustan Times, Ranchi | By
Feb 28, 2017 07:35 PM IST

harkhand forest officials have rescued a critically endangered Pangolin, protected under schedule-1 of wildlife protection Act, 1972, from a Ranchi village

Jharkhand forest officials have rescued a critically endangered Pangolin, protected under schedule-1 of wildlife protection Act, 1972, from a Ranchi village.

Rescued Pangolin at Ranchi zoo(HT Photo)
Rescued Pangolin at Ranchi zoo(HT Photo)

The fully-grown Pangolin, known as Bajrakit in local language, was sent to Ranchi zoo for its care.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

This is the second incident of a Pangolin rescue from Ranchi. The first one had been rescued in 2013 but the species could not survive due to heavy injury.

“We rescued the species from Lapra village in Ranchi’s McCluskieganj area. People from Birhor community caught it at the periphery of Burmu forest,” said forest ranger Biswanath Prasad, adding, “Pangolin is considered to be one of the rarest animals in the world.”

Once found in abundance, the population of Pangolin has dwindled fast across India due to its large scale poaching.

“The species is poached mainly for its meat, scales and skins. Several communities in Jharkhand eat the meat of Pangolin and they sell its scales in lthe ocal market. The scales are used to make rings and charms, while the skin is used for manufacture of leather goods,” said DS Srivastava, state wildlife board member. He said the pangolins are also valued as source of medicine in international market.

The rescued nocturnal mammal, which is around 120cm from head to tail, has been kept under special observation at Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park, known as Ranchi zoo. “We tried to give it a natural habitat in an enclosure that had been built for porcupines. Natural food such as red ant and termites is being given to it,” Ranchi zoo veterinarian Dr Ajay Kumar said.

Kumar said, the central zoo authority has a special focus on increasing the population of Pangolin in India.

“A government sponsored breeding centre has been set up at Nandan Kanan zoo in Odisha to conserve Pangolin.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Sanjoy Dey is principal correspondent in Jharkhand and writes on government, urban development, forest and environment, tourism, rural development and agriculture. He likes to write human interest stories.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On