Endangered species
- August 31, 2020
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Subject: Environment
Context:
Four persons, including two from Pune, were arrested for allegedly trying to sell a pangolin in Satara district
Concept:
- Pangolin, also known as scaly anteater, is an insectivorous mammal that has hard scales of keratin on its body.
- Two of the eight subspecies of the animal are found in India.
- The animal has been given a protected status, as per the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act in the country.
- Indian Pangolin 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 is found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China.
- IUCN Red List 1) Indian Pangolin: Endangered 2) Chinese Pangolin: Critically Endangered