A combined team of People for Animals (PFA), Manipur and Forest department of Manipur on Friday rescued a baby Chinese Pangolin locally known as ‘Saphu’, a critically endangered species, from Khundrakpam Awang leikai.
In a release, PFA Manipur stated that one Keisham Netrajit who is a sub contractor from Khundrakpam Awang Leikai was on his way to Kwatha Khunou in Tengnoupal district on work when he came across some hunters taking the baby pangolin which they had caught. He bought the mammal by paying a sum of Rs 1,500 and brought it to his residence at Khundrakpam, it stated.
After the pangolin escaped from his residence, a local resident found it and broadcasted it live on Facebook, at which the PFA and Forest department noticed and took action promptly, it added.
Under the supervision of PFA team and central divisional forest officer RK Amarjit, deputy ranger Subachandra Laishram BO Koirengei (Sardar East range) and staffs of BO Pangei (Nongmaiching range) rescued the 20-inch long and five-week old mammal, PFA continued.
The rescued baby pangolin is kept at a PFA shelter, with consultancy of scientists and experts from Wildlife Institution of India for conservation until it is matured enough to be released in its habitat, it stated.
Chinese pangolins have been categorised under schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act and have also been red listed as critically endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), due to the reckless poaching for its high demand scales.