Taiwanese pangolin

Last updated

Taiwanese pangolin
Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla 131662828.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pholidota
Family: Manidae
Genus: Manis
Species:
Subspecies:
M. p. pentadactyla
Trinomial name
Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms [1]
  • Manis brachyuraErxleben, 1777

The Taiwanese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla), also known as the Formosan pangolin, is a subspecies of the Chinese pangolin that is native to Taiwan. Its population has largely declined over the past few decades, mainly due to the threat of poaching and illegal trading of their valuable scales and meat. [2]

Contents

Appearance

While they are considered to be more related to bears and cats, the Taiwanese pangolin is extremely similar in appearance to armadillos and anteaters. These mammals look like rodents of approximately 30 inches long, with brown hard scales covering the entire dorsal side of the body. [3] Its front claws are long and sharp, which allows for them to dig burrows in the ground.

Behavior

Pangolins are generally solitary, nocturnal animals known to have elusive behavioral patterns. [2] Therefore, sightings of the Taiwanese pangolin in the wild are extremely rare, making it difficult for data to be collected. [4] The small population also contributes to the difficulty of field observations. They are fossorial animals, which means that they dig burrows underground. Most of the daytime is spent in these burrows, which can be used for resting, giving birth or nursing its offspring. These burrows are also known to be reused and shared among other individual pangolins. [4] The powerful forelimbs have adapted to help dig these burrows easily. Not only this, but their digging skills are also used for hunting insects (dominantly ants and termites). Pangolins utilize their sharp long claws to open their preys nests and stick its long sticky tongue to capture food. [2] Although they are usually on the ground or underground, they are also known to be good climbers as well. [3]

Habitat

The Taiwanese pangolin can be found in a variety of environments in Taiwan, including but not limited to forests, bamboo forests, grasslands, and agricultural fields. [2]

Threats to population

Poaching

The population of Taiwanese pangolins rapidly decreased due to the high demand in the local medicine and meat markets from 1950 to 1970. Additionally, many Taiwanese pangolins have been exported globally for their leather. [5] While it said to have mostly stopped today, some Taiwanese pangolins are also exported to China, as China is one of the biggest consumers of pangolin-products. [6] After the government's ban of commercial harvesting of Taiwanese pangolins, a slight increase in the population was observed. However, due to the lack of strict regulations, hunting of pangolins in Taiwan still persisted only now in the form of poaching and illegal trading. An estimate of more than 2000 pangolins were sold every year as part of illegal trading in the mid-1980s. It is reported that a significant decline in local consumption was only evident after the Taiwanese government established the Wildlife Conservation Act in 1989. [5]

Gin traps

Another factor that has led to the downfall of the Taiwanese pangolin population is the use of gin traps. Gin traps were commonly used by farmers in Taiwan for pest control or to hunt small animals. However, as there is no method of controlling its target, pangolins would frequently get caught in these traps. It is said that 50% of the 117 wild Taiwanese pangolins brought to the Endemic Species Research Institute in central Taiwan from 1993 to 2009 were injured due to these gin traps. The sale and use of gin traps in Taiwan were banned in 2011 under the Animal Protection Act and are not a major threat anymore. [5]

Conservation

Taipei Zoo has held two conservation workshops in 2004 and 2017, in cooperation with the Forestry Bureau of Council of Agriculture, Endemic Species Research Institute, and the IUCN SSC Pangolin and Conservation Planning Specialist Groups. These so-called Pangolin Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshops aimed to solidify conservation strategies and methods of prolonging Taiwanese pangolin survival. In the 2017 PHVA workshop, an elaborate 10-year plan named "the 2017-2027 National Conservation Strategy and Action Plan" was developed in order to achieve their goal of increasing the pangolin population. This plan involved more than 70 stakeholders from 13 different countries and consists of 5 main components. The components are as follows: status review, vision statement, goals, objectives, and actions. In short, through these 5 parts, the group of conservationists aim to assess current knowledge on the Taiwanese pangolin, define clear short and long-term goals for conservation, and finally work towards the goal through specific activities such as protection and breeding of the Taiwanese pangolin. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clouded leopard</span> Species of wild cat

The clouded leopard, also called mainland clouded leopard, is a wild cat inhabiting dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas through Northeast India and Bhutan to mainland Southeast Asia into South China. It was first described in 1821 on the basis of a skin of an individual from China. The clouded leopard has large dusky-grey blotches and irregular spots and stripes reminiscent of clouds. Its head-and-body length ranges from 68.6 to 108 cm with a 61 to 91 cm long tail. It uses its tail for balancing when moving in trees and is able to climb down vertical tree trunks head first. It rests in trees during the day and hunts by night on the forest floor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pangolin</span> Mammals of the order Pholidota

Pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota. The one extant family, the Manidae, has three genera: Manis, Phataginus, and Smutsia. Manis comprises four species found in Asia, while Phataginus and Smutsia include two species each, all found in sub-Saharan Africa. These species range in size from 30 to 100 cm. A number of extinct pangolin species are also known. In September 2023, nine species were reported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ground pangolin</span> Species of mammal

The ground pangolin, also known as Temminck's pangolin, Cape pangolin or steppe pangolin is a species of pangolin from genus Smutsia of subfamily Smutsiinae the within family Manidae. It is one of four species of pangolins which can be found in Africa, and the only one in southern and eastern Africa. The animal was named for the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Species reintroduction</span> Wildlife conservation technique

Species reintroduction is the deliberate release of a species into the wild, from captivity or other areas where the organism is capable of survival. The goal of species reintroduction is to establish a healthy, genetically diverse, self-sustaining population to an area where it has been extirpated, or to augment an existing population. Species that may be eligible for reintroduction are typically threatened or endangered in the wild. However, reintroduction of a species can also be for pest control; for example, wolves being reintroduced to a wild area to curb an overpopulation of deer. Because reintroduction may involve returning native species to localities where they had been extirpated, some prefer the term "reestablishment".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formosan black bear</span> Subspecies of carnivore

The Formosan black bear, also known as the Taiwanese black bear or white-throated bear, is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear. It was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1864. Formosan black bears are endemic to Taiwan. They are also the largest land animals and the only native bears (Ursidae) in Taiwan. They are seen to represent the Taiwanese nation.

<i>Manis</i> Genus of mammals

Manis ("spirit") is a genus of South Asian and East Asian pangolins, the Asiatic pangolins, from subfamily Maninae, within family Manidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manidae</span> Family of pangolins

Manidae ("spirits") is the only extant family of pangolins from superfamily Manoidea. This family comprises three genera, as well as extinct Fayum pangolin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formosan clouded leopard</span> Clouded leopard subspecies that was endemic to Taiwan

The Formosan clouded leopard is a clouded leopard population that was endemic to Taiwan. Camera trapping studies carried out in several protected areas in Taiwan between 1997 and 2012 did not record any clouded leopard. The population is listed as extinct on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran tiger</span> Tiger subspecies endemic to Sumatra

The Sumatran tiger is a population of Panthera tigris sondaica on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is the only surviving tiger population in the Sunda Islands, where the Bali and Javan tigers are extinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian pangolin</span> Species of mammal

The Indian pangolin, also called thick-tailed pangolin and scaly anteater, is a pangolin native to the Indian subcontinent. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings. It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defence against predators such as the tiger. It is an insectivore feeding on ants and termites, digging them out of mounds and logs using its long claws, which are as long as its fore limbs. It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunda pangolin</span> Species of pangolin found in southeast Asia

The Sunda pangolin, also known as the Malayan or Javan pangolin, is a species of pangolin. It is a member of the Manidae family. Its English name comes from the Malay name "pëngulin", which means "roller".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taipei Zoo</span> Zoo in Wenshan, Taipei, Taiwan

The Taipei Zoo, sometimes referred to as the Muzha Zoo, is a public zoological garden in Wenshan District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is the most famous zoological garden in Taiwan and a leader in conservation, research and education, and recreation. It is one of the largest zoos in Asia, with a total area of 165 hectares, of which more than 90 ha are developed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owston's palm civet</span> Species of carnivore

Owston's palm civet is a viverrid native to Vietnam, Laos and a very small portion of southern China, in three counties located in the Yunnan province: Hekou, Luchun, and Jinping, and has never been found west of the Mekong River. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List because of an ongoing population decline, estimated to be more than 50% over the last three generations, inferred from over-exploitation, habitat destruction and degradation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese pangolin</span> Species of mammal

The Chinese pangolin is a pangolin native to the northern Indian subcontinent, northern parts of Southeast Asia and southern China. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2014, as the wild population is estimated to have declined by more than 80% in three pangolin generations, equal to 21 years. It is threatened by poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine pangolin</span> Species of pangolin

The Philippine pangolin or Palawan pangolin, also locally known as balintong, is a pangolin species endemic to the Palawan province of the Philippines. Its habitat includes primary and secondary forests, as well as surrounding grasslands. This species is moderately common within its limited range, but is at risk due to heavy hunting because of its valued scales and meat. This species is distinguished from the closely related Sunda pangolin by its smaller body-to-tail ratio, smaller scales, and a shorter head. It is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, and Critically Endangered by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

The Kulamba Wildlife Reserve is situated in Sabah, Malaysia, and covers 204 km2 (79 sq mi). It is an area protected under state law and is particularly significant for the conservation of orangutans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pangolin trade</span> Illegal poaching, sale and trafficking

The pangolin trade is the illegal poaching, trafficking, and sale of pangolins, parts of pangolins, or pangolin-derived products on the black market. Pangolins are believed to be the world's most trafficked mammal, accounting for as much as 20% of all illegal wildlife trade. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than a million pangolins were poached in the decade prior to 2014.

Mahamyaing Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Myanmar's Sagaing Region, covering an area of 1,181 km2 (456 sq mi). It ranges in elevation from 145 to 590 m and was established in 2002 in Kalay and Mawlaik Townships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imawbum National Park</span> National Park in Myanmar

Imawbum National Park, also known as Emawbum National Park, is a national park in northern Myanmar. The park was designated in 2020, and covers an area of 149,103 acres (603.40 km2). It is located in eastern Kachin State, and on the east it adjoins the border with China.

References

  1. "Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chao, J-T.; Tsao, E.H.; Traylor-Holzer, K.; Reed, D.; Leus, K. (2005). "Formosan Pangolin Population and Habitat Viability Assessment: Final Report". Apple Valley, MN.: IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. 1 2 "Chinese Pangolin". National Geographic. 19 December 2018. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Sun, Nick Ching-Min; Pei, Kurtis Jai-Chyi; Wu, Li-Yue (13 September 2021). "Long term monitoring of the reproductive behavior of wild Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)". Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 18116. Bibcode:2021NatSR..1118116S. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-97618-4. PMC   8438059 . PMID   34518626.
  5. 1 2 3 Sun, Nick Ching-Min; Arora, Bharti; Lin, Jing-Shiun; Lin, Wen-Chi; Chi, Meng-Jou; Chen, Chen-Chih; Pei, Curtis Jai-Chyi (6 February 2019). "Mortality and morbidity in wild Taiwanese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla)". PLOS ONE. 14 (2): e0198230. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1498230S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198230 . PMC   6364958 . PMID   30726204.
  6. "Taiwan: the pangolin's last stand? - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  7. Kao, J.; Li, J.Y.W.; Lees, C.; Traylor-Holzer, K.; Jang-Liaw, N.H.; Chen, T.T.Y; Lo, F.H.Y; Yu, H.Y.; Sun, C.M. (2019). "2017 Population and Habitat Viability Assessment and Conservation Action Plan for the Formosan Pangolin, Manis p. pentadactyla". Apple Valley, MN, USA.: IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)