Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 15259977

Conservation of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) through research, awareness education and capacity building in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Mission and Objectives (Individual Project)

We are working on conservation of Pangolin in Pakistan. Data regarding ecology of Indian Pangolin is scanty throughout its distribution range. It is being killed for its scales and have been listed as Endangered in IUCN Red list of threatened species. Our mission is to;

a) Generate baseline information on ecology of Indian Pangolin, which is vital for its conservation.

b) Spread awareness education among local communities to stop killing of Indian Pangolin.

c) Capacity building of field staff of relevant stakeholders since wildlife Departments are not technically sound in Pakistan.

Geographical Area of the Project:

Current project will be conducted in Deva Vatala National Park. It is situated on the Pakistan-India border (32°51.592- 55.327 N to 74°16.854-24.550 E) in District Bhimber of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. In the east, DVNP is surrounded by River Tuvi and occupied Kashmir, in the west by Bhimber city, in the north by Bandala valley and in the south by District Gujrat of Pakistan. The study area was declared as Game Reserve in 1982, having 500 ha area and was up graded as National Park in 2007, covering an area of 2,993 ha. Its elevation ranges from 267 to 536m and it has number of seasonal streams and small ponds. It contains sloppy as well as plain area, covered by mixed natural vegetation (GoAJK, 2010).

Target Species:

Our target species is Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) which is also known as scaly ant eater.