Distribution and Habitat Analysis of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan

Abstract

The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata Geoffroy 1803), is the sole representative of the Pholidota order found in Pakistan, the species is threatened due to rampant trade, leading to its classification as “Endangered” since 2014. The current study investigated the distribution and habitat analysis of the Indian pangolin in three selected sites (Kot Manzare, Bazdara and Naro Ubu) of Malakand district, Pakistan. The study involved traversing different transects within the study area. Confirmation of the presence of the Indian Pangolin in the area was achieved through the identification of living and feeding burrows, scats, and footprints around the burrows. This study not only documented every tree, shrub, and herb species present but also recorded their densities per hectare (D/ha), along with relative density (RD), relative frequency (RF), relative cover (RC), and importance value index (IVI) at each of the three sites. Additionally, coordinates of feeding and living burrows were noted. A total of 37 burrows, consisting of 25 feeding and 12 living burrows, were observed across the study area; specifically, 14 burrows were recorded at site II (Naro Obu), 13 at site III (Bazdara), and 10 at site I (Kot Manzare). Results of vegetation analysis revealed that Dalbergia sissoo, Ziziphus nummularia, Acacia nilotica, Berberis lycium and A. modesta were the dominant tree species, while Carissa opaca, Dodonaea viscosa, Lantana camara, Maytenus royleanus and Justicia adhatoda were dominant shrub species. Herb species such as Cynodon dactylon, Saccharum bengalense, Carthamus oxyacantha, Cannabis sativa and Convolvulus arvensis were also documented. This study represents a pioneering effort in understanding the distribution, habitat, and threats faced by the Indian pangolin in District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Study findings on pangolin distribution, habitat preferences, population trends, and awareness will help prioritize conservation in key habitats.