The most hunted vulnerable animal on Earth is found in Bihar

Time of India

6 hours ago

Representative Image only
While most wildlife discussions focus on majestic tigers or mighty elephants, some creatures go unnoticed but are absolutely vulnerable and among the endangered animals on Earth.
You may not have seen one in the wild, or even heard much about it, but this gentle, shy mammal is now one of the most illegally hunted animals in the world.
What makes the pangolin so vulnerable is not just its unique appearance, but the unfortunate value placed on its meat and scales, especially in illegal markets across Asia. Despite being protected under wildlife laws, the demand for pangolins remains dangerously high, pushing them closer to extinction.
Wildlife expert Abhishek, who has worked in animal conservation for nearly 30 years, revealed to News18 that the pangolin is one of the most trafficked mammals on the planet. 'It's the most hunted animal on Earth,' he said, highlighting that myths and unproven claims about its medicinal properties are driving it to extinction.
Pangolin's meat is sold at sky-high prices
The problem lies not just in India, but across Asia, particularly in China, where pangolin meat is sold as an exotic delicacy for prices as high as Rs 27,000 to Rs 30,000 per kilogram, said wildlife expert Abhishek to News18
.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pangolin scales and bones are falsely believed to treat various ailments.
Pangolin
The scales of the pangolin are made of keratin, the same material found in human fingernails, offering no proven medicinal value. Still, belief in their healing powers continues to fuel illegal hunting and cross-border smuggling.
India is home to two of the world's eight pangolin species including the Indian pangolin and the Chinese pangolin, which are both found in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve of Bihar. These nocturnal creatures feed mainly on ants and termites, which makes them incredibly important to maintaining ecological balance in forest ecosystems.
Pangolin
But it's not just poaching that's endangering pangolins. Habitat destruction, including deforestation and human encroachment, is shrinking the safe spaces where they can live and breed.
Valmiki's protected forests may be one of the last few places offering refuge to these shy mammals but their survival depends on strict enforcement of wildlife protection laws and greater public awareness.