Critically Endangered Indian Pangolin Rescued in Rajouri, J&K
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Jammu, Jan 10 (NationPress) A critically endangered Indian Pangolin has been rescued by the J&K Wildlife Protection Department from a forested area close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district, as reported by officials on Friday.
Known scientifically as Manis crassicaudata, the Indian Pangolin is classified as a Schedule-I animal under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and is listed as a critically endangered species on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Officials from the Wildlife Protection Department indicated that the rescue operation took place in the Sunderbani region near the LoC on Thursday.
"This rescue operation marks a significant achievement for Rajouri and is a valuable contribution to the biodiversity of the Rajouri-Poonch Wildlife Division. We are grateful for the support of the Indian Army in this effort," stated Amit Sharma, the Wildlife Warden for the Rajouri-Poonch range.
The Indian Pangolin is a rare and elusive creature, often targeted in the grey market (animal trafficking) due to its hard body scales, which are highly valued.
The army has played a crucial role in aiding the protection and preservation of both animal and plant species within the fragile ecosystem of Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara, and other regions in J&K.
It is noteworthy that during the over 30 years of separatist violence, timber smugglers collaborated with terrorists and their associates to exploit the forest resources of J&K. In areas heavily affected by terrorism, the destruction of forests and wildlife was particularly severe. Even migratory birds, which once flocked to the Valley in thousands, began to avoid Kashmir’s water bodies during the height of terrorism, as poachers took advantage of the weakened control over protected water reserves. However, as terrorism has been curtailed and administrative authority re-established, these avian visitors have started returning to their winter habitats in the Valley in large numbers. -
