Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammals in the world and among all of them, Chinese Pangolin (Manispentadactyla) may be the most threatened. Poaching, illegal trade and habitat destruction are the primary threats to the species. It is estimated that approximately 50,000 Chinese Pangolins have been traded internationally between 2000 and 2013, but the number is growing even more recently. Nepal police, a law enforcement agency, have arrested more than 60 smugglers in the last five years or so and confiscated about 250 kg of pangolin scales, 5 live pangolins, a pangolin carcass and seven sets of pangolin skins. There is no known domestic pangolin market in Nepal. Most of the poached pangolins were exported to China via middlemen. Poaching not only impacts pangolin survival, but also harms the local communities, such as it can lead to increased criminal activities in rural areas as individuals can compete to kill pangolins that they come across, but receive less benefit.

Recent studies have shown that Nepal is an important habitat of the Chinese Pangolin with population strongholds in the central regions, significant yet declining populations of this species are scattered throughout the country, largely outside of protected areas, making the species more vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. Despite their sharp decline, less priority has been given to adequate conservation intervention and studies on population, abundance and distribution.

Recent record of seizure cases of live and body parts of pangolins in Kathmandu shows Kavrepalanchok district as a potential route that connects with Tibet to the northern side of the district to smuggle pangolin products, making the area more vulnerable to illegal trade activities. Similarly, increased incidences of smuggling indicate that local people are actively involved in the illegal trade of Chinese Pangolin and their parts from this district. This project intended to reduce the willingness of local communities to engage in pangolin poaching by improving their understanding of conservation at the end of this project.

A lack of awareness of the legal status of pangolins among local communities could be an important cause that supports scaling up the trade activities. Together with the illegal trade on pangolins, habitat loss and disturbances, coupled with lack of sensitization programs for local communities/organizations are now major concerns for the long-term survival of this unique species. Also, capacity building of local communities and engaging them in pangolin conservation activities will be the only potential yet effective conservation approach.

This project proposed a set of measures to conserve the remaining pangolins in the community forest of Bethanchok Rural Municipality, Kavrepalanchok district of Central Nepal. Our activities will be focused on mapping pangolin abundance and distribution hotspots through the survey of pangolin habitats and reducing illegal trade through the active involvement of local communities to protect the elusive pangolin and its habitats in a long run.

The specific objectives of the projects are;

• Study distribution, population abundance and poaching of Chinese Pangolin in the community forest of Bethanchok Rural Municipality, Kavrepalanchok district of Central Nepal.
• Develop the capacity of community members and mobilize them to take immediate actions on pangolin poaching and illegal trade activities.
• Use of survey data on threats and population abundance to conduct education and awareness activities.

The project is funded by The Rufford Foundation.