CITES COP19 urges parties to remove references to pangolins from ‘official pharmacopoeia’

CITES COP19 urges parties to remove references to pangolins from ‘official pharmacopoeia’

Subject :Environment

Context:

In news-

• The 19th Conference of Parties (COP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) urged countries November 22, 2022, to remove references to parts and derivatives of pangolins “from the official pharmacopoeia” to help save the species.
  • Pharmacopoeia is an official publication containing a list of medicinal drugs with their effects and directions for their use.
  • COP19 suggested countries to replace these references with acceptable substitute products that do not threaten the existence of another wild species.

About the pangolin-

• Pangolins are scaly anteater mammals and they have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin. They are the only known mammals with this feature.
• It uses these scales as armour to defend itself against predators by rolling into a ball when threatened.

Diet:

• Insectivore- Pangolins are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites, which they capture using their long tongues.

Types:

• Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are found in India.

Difference:

• Indian Pangolin is a large anteater covered by 11-13 rows of scales on the back.
• A terminal scale is also present on the lower side of the tail of the Indian Pangolin, which is absent in the Chinese Pangolin.

Habitat:

• Indian Pangolin:
  • It is widely distributed in India, except the arid region, high Himalayas and the North-East.
  • The species is also found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• Chinese Pangolin:
  • It is found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China.

Threats to Pangolins in India:

• Hunting and poaching for local consumptive use (e.g. as a protein source and traditional medicine) and international trade for its meat and scales in East and South East Asian countries, particularly China and Vietnam.
• They are believed to be the world’s most trafficked mammal.

Conservation Status:

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
• IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • Chinese Pangolin is ‘critically endangered’
• CITES: Appendix I

Nandankanan Zoological Park

• It is 15 kms from Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar. It was inaugurated in 1960.
• First zoo in the country to become a member of the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA).
• WAZA is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
• It is recognized as a leading zoo for the breeding of the Indian pangolin and white tiger.
• Leopards, mouse deer, lions, rats and vultures are also bred here.
• It was the world’s first captive crocodile breeding centre, where gharials were bred in captivity in 1980.
• The State Botanical Garden of Nandankanan is one of the pioneering plant conservation and nature education centres of Odisha.