Integrating camera traps and community knowledge to assess the status of the Indian pangolinManis crassicaudatain the Eastern Ghats, India

Abstract

Pangolins are the most trafficked animals globally. Although the Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata occurs across the Indian subcontinent (excluding parts of the Himalayas and the north-east, where the Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla is present), it is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List as a result of heavy poaching for its meat and scales. Several areas have not yet been surveyed for the occurrence of the Indian pangolin, one of which is the 16,948 km2 tropical deciduous forests of the northern Eastern Ghats landscape in Andhra Pradesh. During December 2017–April 2018, we surveyed 750 km2 of this landscape for the presence of the Indian pangolin, using camera traps. As an alternative method to document pangolin presence, and to identify factors driving hunting of the species, we also conducted, during the same period, a total of 60 semi-structured interviews with people in 30 villages. Interviewees reported the presence of pangolins in a majority of the grid cells that we surveyed with camera traps, particularly in moist deciduous forests distant from villages. However, the camera traps did not detect pangolins in 840 trap-days. Hunting of pangolins for their meat, which is consumed locally, and for their scales, which are traded, is most likely the reason for the rarity of the species in this landscape. A better understanding of the proximate and ultimate drivers of pangolin hunting is required, to inform proactive conservation management for this increasingly threatened species.

Insights into human‐wildlife coexistence through temporal activity pattern overlaps in a neglected tropical forest in India

“…This also raises concerns about humans potentially tailoring their temporal movement to enable hunting in the poorly protected forests of the NEG and warrants further research. There is high presence of humans along with associated domestic species as reported in a previous studies (Aditya et al, 2021; Aditya & Ganesh, 2019). However, we did not find any strong correlation between mammal temporal activity patterns and the intensity of human use (distance from villages) of forests, suggesting that intensity of human activity does not significantly alter mammal activity in the NEG as much as human presence does.…”

“…The NEG is a complex socio‐ecological landscape that experiences high human use of forests due to a high density of habitations, at about seven villages per 100 km 2 , despite a relatively low overall population density (Aditya, 2019). Hunting by local communities is widespread throughout the NEG including the PNP (Aditya et al, 2021; Aditya & Ganesh, 2019; Ganesh et al, 2015). Traditional forms of hunting using bows and arrows, traps, and snares are practiced.…”

“…Therefore, although our study has not found sufficient evidence for indicating strong evasive behavior in mammal temporal activity avoiding humans in the NEG, our results are indicative of the possibility that human activity can be viewed as one potential predictor causing shifts in wildlife temporal activity, especially among herbivores. The high density of villages could be contributing to the high human activity and facilitating access to forests for hunting (Aditya, 2019; Aditya et al, 2021; Ganesh et al, 2015).…”

“…The Eastern Ghats stretch over 1600 km north south, roughly parallel to India's east coast. The northern section of the Eastern Ghats covers over 16,948 km 2 (Aditya, 2019; Aditya et al, 2021; Aditya & Ganesh, 2019) and is mountainous, with elevation ranging between 20 to 1690 m a.s.l. (Figure 1).…”

“…Two forest‐dwelling indigenous communities—the Konda Reddis and Koyas, predominantly inhabit PNP and the buffer in 58 habitations, with a population density of 20 persons/km 2 (Aditya, 2019). Hunting, shifting cultivation, and extraction of non‐timber forest products are primary livelihood sources (Aditya et al, 2021; Aditya & Ganesh, 2019; Ganesh et al, 2015). PNP was managed as a Reserve Forest since 1967 and was notified as a National Park in 2008.…”