World Pangolin Day: Data on Pangolin poaching in India

February 18, 2023

In 2023, World Pangolin Day is celebrated on February 18. Every year the day is celebrated on the third Saturday of February month. The main objective of the celebration is to create awareness about the Pangolin population decline. The population of Pangolin are decreasing rapidly in Africa and Asia. The main reason for the decline is their medicinal value. Pangolin scales have several medicinal properties.

Pangolins in India

The World Wildlife Fund says that between 2018 and 2022, more than 1,203 pangolins were poached and trafficked. Indian Pangolins are hunted and exported to markets in South Asia and China.

State wise Pangolin illegal trade in India

Of all the states, Odisha had the highest seizures. More than 154 pangolins were seized in 74 encounters. Following Odisha, Maharashtra has the second-highest seizure incidents. More than 135 pangolins were seized in Maharashtra between 2018 and 2022 according to the WWF report. 50% of the seizures had live pangolins. 40% had pangolin scales.

Conservation

IUCN: Critically Endangered
CITES: APPENDIX I: This appendix prohibits international trade
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Why is Pangolin highly demanded in International Market?

The scales of Pangolin have high medicinal properties. They are used to heal back pain and treat strokes, and rheumatism.

How important is Pangolin?

Pangolins are very important to balance the ecosystem. They play a major role in the food chain. A single Pangolin eats 70 million insects. They are natural pest controllers.

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