GANGTOK,: As a part of the project on pangolin conservation in Kanchenjunga landscape, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Himalaya Regional Office, Gangtok, Gangtok conducted a two-workshop, titled “Pangolin Research in the Himalaya: Regional Workshop-sharing experiences on research methodologies and identifying research priorities” from November 8-9, at Tukre, Sangmaru Tea Estate Darjeeling.
Pangolins are a group of eight scaly, insectivorous mammals native to the Afrotropical and Asian regions. All pangolin species are threatened, primarily due to illegal wildlife trade and aggravated by habitat loss. Two of these species – the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) – occur in the Himalayan countries of Nepal, Bhutan and India.
The IUCN Pangolin Action Plan identifies key research needs essential for effective conservation of the species. There are unique challenges in research and research capacity with implications on applicable findings for pangolin conservation across the Himalayan region. Addressing these issues requires the development of region-specific field methodologies, improved local capacity, and enhanced coordination between researchers, informs a press release.
This workshop brought together experts, and researchers to share and build knowledge, draft a methodology protocol for pangolin research in Himalaya, identify priority research areas and equip participants with skills necessary for effective pangolin research and conservation in the Himalayan region, the release mentions.
The workshop was attended by four participants from Nepal and 10 participants from India, and three online presentations, representing organisations like National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, Small Mammal Research and Conservation Foundation (SMRCF, Nepal), National Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepal (NTNC), Green Hood, Nepal, Guwahati University, National Institute of Advance Science (NIAS, Bangalore), Northeast Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Asian Development Bank, Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS-India) and ATREE.