Poaching to make pangolins ‘extinct’ in Una forests

Rajesh Sharma

Advertisement

Una, April 19

Pangolins, locally known as “salgar”, are disappearing from the forests of Bangana and Amb blocks in the district. They have become most seized mammal in the region as poachers sell its flesh, which is considered as a delicacy and used in medicines.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) RK Dogra said of the eight pangolin species in the world, four each were found in Asia and Africa. He said the International Union for Conservation of Nature had classified the Indian Pangolin —- ‘Manis crassicaudata’—- as ‘endangered to critically endangered’, just a step away from ‘extinct’.

He said a low birth rate of one offspring per year by an adult pangolin was another reason for their dwindling population.

He said it was disappointed that despite a vigil by the forest staff, poachers were able to trap and kill the animal.

As per law, the killing of an animal listed in Schedule I attracts fine and imprisonment.