Lok Sabha Question No. 6163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-11
Subject: Protection of Pangolin
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 6163

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.04.2017

## Protection of Pangolin

## 6163.   SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA: KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the number of pangolin species in the country since 2012, year and State-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that the pangolin is the most hunted and traded animal in India and in the world;
- (c) if so, the number of pangolin species killed during the said period along with the steps taken by the Government to protect the animal from extinction in the country; and
- (d) the achievements made as a result of the said efforts?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIORNMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) Of the eight-extant species of pangolin in the world, only two species are found in India  viz.,  Indian  pangolin Manis  crassicaudata and  Chinese  Pangolin Manis pentadactyla. No  systematic  survey  has  been  undertaken  on  the  species  wise population and distribution in the country. Hence year wise data are not available.
- (b)&(c) As  per  the  International  Union  for  Conservation  of  Nature  (IUCN)  Red List,  Pangolin  species  has  been  historically  exploited,  locally  and  for international trade.Details of killing of pangolin are not maintained at the level of Central Government. Steps taken by the Government of India to check  poaching  and  trading  of  Pangolin  Scales  from  within  the  country , inter  alia ,  include  bringing  all  species  of  Pangolins  being  brought  under Appendix I of CITES, sensitization of border guarding forces, customs and Central  Industrial  Security  Force(CISF)  officials  at  exit  points,  issuing

alerts  and  advisories  on  poaching  and  illegal  trade  of  wildlife  to  the concerned  State  and  Central  agencies  and  joint  operations  with  State enforcement  agencies  to  apprehend  criminals  involved  in  poaching  and trading of pangolin. Apart from this considering the increase in the illegal trade of Pangolin scales in India, DNA barcoding work has been initiated at  Wildlife  Institute  of  India  (WII).  WII  has  provided  support  to  the  law enforcement agencies in dealing with wildlife offences by identifying parts and products of pangolin.

- (d) A network of poaching and illegal trade in pangolin scales was busted by Madhya  Pradesh  Special  Task  Force  with  the  help  and  coordination  of Wild  Life  Crime  Control  Bureau  (WCCB)  resulted  in  the  arrest  of  126 criminals from 10 states. WCCB  also  issued.  Alert on 21.01.2014 regarding  illegal  trade  in  pangolin  scales,  to  sensitize  the  enforcement agencies  about  the  species,  modus  operandiadopted  by  criminals  for hunting and trade, trade routes and destinations. As a result of this a large number of seizures of pangolin scales have been effected throughout the country by various enforcement agencies.

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