Assam: Goalpara youths and Forest Department rescue endangered Pangolin

An endangered pangolin was rescued in Khutabari village, Goalpara district, thanks to the swift actions of local youths and the state forest department. On Thursday night, villagers spotted the pangolin and promptly alerted the Pancharatna Zonal Forest Department Office.

Forest officials, accompanied by local volunteers, arrived at the scene and successfully secured the pangolin, which was then transported to the Pancharatna Zonal Forest Office. Weighing approximately three kilograms and measuring 1.5 meters in length, the pangolin was safely released into the Pancharatna Reserved Forest later that night.

Forest officials praised the Khutabari youth for their prompt response and concern for wildlife. The pangolin, though endangered, is commonly found in the Pancharatna Reserved Forest. The forest department has expressed gratitude to the villagers for their vigilance and care.

This rescue follows a recent crackdown on illegal wildlife trade in Goalpara. On August 11, 2024, the Assam Forest Department arrested four poachers in Daranggiri, who were found with pangolin scales, a high-value item in the black market. Despite their use in traditional medicine, scientific evidence refutes the efficacy of pangolin scales in treating ailments. The illegal trade continues to pose a severe threat to pangolin populations, with over a million pangolins poached globally in the past decade. The black market value of pangolin scales can exceed 2.5 lakhs rupees ($3000) per kilogram.