In the forest areas adjacent to the city of Shillong, a camera trap recorded an animal that is rarely seen even by wildlife specialists. While moving through the forest at night, a Chinese pangolin—an endangered mammal—was spotted for the first time in the research area of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Meghalaya.
This observation is significant not only because of the presence of an endangered species. Forests bordering settlements may seem small compared to protected wilderness areas, but they are capable of providing vital protection for animals facing habitat loss and fragmentation.
Rare visitor captured by camera
This record resulted from WII's ongoing project titled 'Assessment of Mammal Communities in Meghalaya.' The project focuses on the Riat Laban and Laitkor reserved forests located on the outskirts of Shillong. The Institute noted that this is the first documentation of the Chinese pangolin within its research zone in Meghalaya.
Camera traps recorded the critically endangered Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) for the first time in this region. This record was obtained as part of the 'Assessment of Mammal Communities in Meghalaya' project, which covers the Riat Laban and Laitkor reserved forests on the urban fringes of Shillong. These suburban urban forests are home to a surprisingly unique and diverse collection of wild animals. In addition to the Chinese pangolin, the cameras also captured iconic species such as the large Indian civet, leopard cat, masked palm civet, yellow-bellied coulan, Indian crested porcupine, and Kalij pheasant.
The importance of this discovery lies in the fact that suburban and peri-urban forests are often overlooked, although they serve as crucial ecological refuges for species threatened by habitat fragmentation and urban development. The detection of a specialist like the Chinese pangolin in an environment inhabited by rich populations of predators and small mammals proves that these patches of urban forest are invaluable biodiversity hotspots that require strict protection and conservation.
This finding is particularly valuable because systematic information on species abundance and distribution in Northeast India remains limited. Although the Chinese pangolin is known to occur in the region, recent systematic data on its status and numbers are lacking.
While the camera trap footage itself does not establish the exact number of pangolins in these forests or the stability of their population, it confirms the species' presence in the study area and provides researchers with an important starting point for further monitoring.
What makes the Chinese pangolin special?
Pangolins are nocturnal insectivores, meaning they are most active at night and feed on insects. Their bodies are covered in overlapping scales, and when threatened, they curl into a tight ball, using their armored exterior as defense.
However, this defense is largely ineffective against humans. Pangolins are widely recognized as the world's most trafficked mammals, making their survival a serious conservation concern.
Of the eight pangolin species worldwide, two are found in India: the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).
The Chinese pangolin is native to parts of the northern Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Southern China. In India, it is found in the northeastern states and northern West Bengal. Arunachal Pradesh is considered one of its main habitats.
The species has been listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered since 2014, reflecting a high risk of extinction in the wild.
How to distinguish between the two Indian pangolins?
Although both species are covered in protective scales, there are some distinguishing features: scale size—the Chinese pangolin has smaller scales than the Indian pangolin; tail—the Indian pangolin has a terminal scale on the underside of its tail, which the Chinese pangolin lacks; scale weight—the dry weight of a single Chinese pangolin's scales is approximately 500–700 grams, compared to about 1.5–1.8 kg for the Indian pangolin.
These differences can aid in distinguishing the two species, although identifying the animal in the wild requires careful observation.
More than just a pangolin
The Chinese pangolin was not the only animal recorded during the WII camera trap survey. The Institute documented a range of other wildlife in the Riat Laban and Laitkor reserved forests, including the large Indian civet, leopard cat, masked palm civet, yellow-bellied coulan, Indian crested porcupine, and Kalij pheasant.
The presence of numerous mammals and birds also makes these areas valuable for understanding how different species utilize habitats located near human settlements. WII describes these suburban forests as possessing a surprisingly unique and diverse collection of wildlife.
Why are Shillong's forests important?
Urban forests are often valued for their contribution to improving people's quality of life, whether by providing green spaces or supporting local ecological processes. However, their significance also lies in the wildlife they support, including species that might otherwise go unnoticed.
WII emphasized that the discovery of a critically endangered species, such as the Chinese pangolin, coexisting with a rich array of predators and small mammals, proves that these patches of urban forest are invaluable biodiversity centers that must be strictly protected and conserved. Protecting these forests will require recognizing them as wildlife habitats, not merely undeveloped land around the city.