An endangered pangolin has survived in a small woodland within an urban landscape

This is a significant discovery for scientists: previously, the only evidence of the Chinese pangolin in the Sunsari district came from local residents’ accounts and indirect signs. Now, its presence has been confirmed for the first time by photographs and short videos captured by a camera trap.

Details

The Chinese pangolin, or Manis pentadactyla, is a nocturnal mammal covered in horny scales. It feeds mainly on ants and termites, lives a secretive life and is rarely seen by humans. This is precisely why it can be difficult to confirm its presence in a specific area.

In January 2025, researchers travelled to the Panchakanya Forest in Sunsari District in eastern Nepal. This is a small community forest in the foothills of the Siwalik Range. It is considered sacred by the local Hindu and Kirat communities, yet it is situated in a heavily disturbed landscape: people live nearby, roads run through the area, and there is agricultural land and urban infrastructure.

The researchers looked for fresh burrows, tracks and signs of pangolin feeding. They then set up two camera traps and moved them between different points along the trails and near the burrows. The cameras operated for a total of 14 nights.

They managed to obtain footage quickly. On the second night, the camera trap captured a Chinese pangolin twice — at 22:03 and 22:06. As the footage was taken almost in the same spot and just three minutes apart, the researchers concluded that it was the same individual.

The discovery expands the map of the species’ confirmed range in Nepal. According to the authors, the Chinese pangolin has now been documented in 28 districts across the country.

Why this matters

Pangolins are among the most vulnerable mammals in the world. They are threatened by poaching, habitat loss and illegal trade. Their scales and meat are sold on the black market, despite their protected status.

The new discovery shows that even small patches of forest near human settlements can be of great importance to rare species. This is particularly true if local communities regard them as sacred places and protect them from complete deforestation.

This does not mean that sacred status in itself guarantees protection. The Panchakanya Forest, as described by the authors, is surrounded by human infrastructure. But it is precisely such areas that can serve as last refuges for elusive animals, provided they are monitored and habitat destruction is prevented.

Background

The Chinese pangolin is found in South and Southeast Asia, but it is difficult to spot. It is nocturnal, secretive, burrows, and often leaves only indirect traces behind.

To protect such animals, it is important not only to know that the species ‘exists somewhere’, but also to understand in which specific areas it still survives. Without this, it is difficult to plan forest conservation, combat poaching and explain to local residents why this animal is important.

In the case of the Sungsari, there had previously been reports and signs resembling pangolin tracks. But the camera trap provided more reliable evidence: the animal does indeed appear in this area.

Source

Study: Tujin Rai et al., ‘The sacred forest’s secret: first camera-trap evidence of the Chinese pangolin in Sunsari district, Nepal’, Oryx, 2026.