Pangolin Presence In Brunei: Myth Or Reality?

The pangolin is a unique, prehistoric mammal that has been around for 80 million years. There are eight known species of pangolins spread across Asia and Africa, all of which are listed as threatened with extinction. The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is one of two pangolin species found in Southeast Asia, and Brunei is one of the last strongholds for this critically endangered species.

The Sunda pangolin is found in Brunei

The Sunda pangolin is a fascinating creature. It is a prehistoric, toothless mammal that has been around for 80 million years. It has a long sticky tongue and strong claws that help it dig out ants and termites from their nests. It is also the world's only truly scaly mammal. The pangolin's name comes from the Malay word "penggulung", meaning "roller", as it curls up into a ball when threatened. This defensive mechanism has unfortunately made it vulnerable to poachers and hunters, who can easily pick it up once it has rolled up.

The Sunda pangolin is critically endangered. It is under constant threat from poaching and trafficking, with all eight pangolin species listed in the threatened tier of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The IUCN Red List predicts that the Sunda pangolin population will decline by 80% within the next two decades unless urgent action is taken. This prediction is supported by the fact that the Sunda pangolin is already extremely rare in most parts of its range due to poaching.

Brunei is a small country with easily accessible forests, which has led to an increase in reports of pangolins being poached and sold in local markets and via social media. However, Brunei remains one of the last strongholds for this species. Conservation efforts are being made to protect the Sunda pangolin in Brunei, including a workshop that developed a strategic plan for its conservation and provided field training for wildlife rangers and young conservationists.

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals

The Sunda pangolin has a long history of being traded internationally and is the mammal most frequently found in illicit trade in Asia. Its scales are predominantly dark brown, although they often feature white scales on their tails. Unfortunately, these scales are highly sought-after by poachers due to cultural beliefs about their medicinal properties. Pangolin meat is also consumed as a sign of status in upmarket restaurants.

Brunei is one of the last strongholds for the Sunda pangolin species. However, as a small country with easily accessible forests, there has been an increase in reports of pangolins being poached and sold in local markets and via social media. Over the past year, 50 pangolins have been sold over social media in Brunei, with only nine rescued and released.

To combat this issue, conservation efforts are being made to protect the Sunda pangolin in Brunei. For example, a strategic plan has been developed for its conservation, and field training has been conducted for wildlife rangers and young conservationists to survey and monitor this species. Additionally, the #WeAreASEANBiodiversity campaign has been launched to raise public awareness about biodiversity conservation and the plight of the pangolin.

The world is finally waking up to the plight of the pangolin. With governments, conservation groups, and individuals coming together, we may be able to ensure the survival of these fascinating creatures for the next 80 million years.

Poaching and trafficking threaten the species' survival

The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a species of pangolin native to Brunei. Pangolins are unique, prehistoric mammals that have been around for 80 million years. They are shy, slow-moving, and mainly nocturnal. They live in forests and grasslands, sleeping in tree hollows or deep burrows. When threatened, pangolins curl up into a ball, using their tough and thick scales as armour to protect their soft bellies.

Unfortunately, pangolins are under constant threat from poaching and trafficking. All eight known species of pangolin are listed in the threatened tier of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Sunda pangolin and the Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) are the two species found in Southeast Asia, and both are considered critically endangered.

The pangolin's elusive nature makes it difficult to study, and there is limited knowledge about its behaviours and reliable population estimates. According to Nosrat Ravichandran, a protected area specialist at the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), "every part of the pangolin has some value in trade". Their meat is consumed, and their scales are used in traditional medicine. In addition, habitat loss and fragmentation make pangolins easily accessible to poachers.

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals, with at least 895,000 pangolins trafficked internationally from Asia and Africa between 2000 and 2020. Their scales are highly sought after by poachers due to cultural beliefs about their medicinal properties. Pangolin scales can sell for over $3,500 per kilogram on the black market, and each pangolin has upwards of 1,000 scales. In 2019, a single shipment of pangolin scales weighing 12 tons and worth about $38.1 million was seized in Singapore.

To combat the threat of poaching and trafficking, the ACB has launched a three-year campaign called #WeAreASEANBiodiversity to raise public awareness about biodiversity conservation. The campaign aims to build stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors to participate in conservation actions. Dr Arvin Diesmos, director of ACB's Biodiversity Information Management unit, emphasised the need for the public to access accurate information about biodiversity and the natural environment.

Pangolins are shy, slow-moving and nocturnal

Pangolins are toothless, prehistoric mammals that have been around for 80 million years. They are the world's only truly scaly mammals, with their scales made of keratin, the same substance that makes up hair, fingernails and horn. They have strong claws for digging out food from sturdy nests, and a long, sticky tongue to reach deep into crevices for insects. Their prehensile tails help them climb trees, and mothers use them to carry their young.

Pangolins are mostly silent and communicate through scent-marking. They are born with all their scales, which can number up to a thousand. Infant pangolins ride on their mother's tail for around three months. African pangolins usually have only one baby, while Asian pangolins have been seen with up to three young.

The Sunda pangolin, found in Brunei, is one of the two pangolin species that call Southeast Asia home. It is also the most widely distributed species of pangolin in the region. The other species found in the region is the Philippine pangolin. The Sunda pangolin is critically endangered and is the mammal most frequently found in illicit trade in Asia. Its scales are predominantly dark brown, though they sometimes have white scales on their tails.

Citizen science and involvement are crucial for their conservation

The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a unique, prehistoric mammal that has existed for 80 million years. It is one of two pangolin species native to Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis). The Sunda pangolin is found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Pangolins are under constant threat from poaching and trafficking. Their meat is consumed, and their scales are used in traditional medicine. Pangolins are also threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, which makes them more accessible to poachers. As a result, all eight known pangolin species are listed in the threatened tier of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Sunda pangolin, in particular, is considered Critically Endangered.

To protect pangolins in Brunei and other countries where they are found, citizen science and involvement are crucial for their conservation. The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has launched a three-year campaign called #WeAreASEANBiodiversity to raise public awareness about biodiversity conservation and the plight of pangolins. The campaign aims to build stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors to participate in conservation actions.

Dr. Arvin Diesmos, director of ACB's Biodiversity Information Management unit, emphasized the importance of the campaign in popularizing science, laws, instruments, and the statuses of species and their habitats for different sectors, especially among the youth. It is crucial that the public knows their right sources of information about biodiversity and the natural environment. The work of researchers, scientists, conservation biologists, and citizen scientists is vital in generating the right kind of scientific information, both technical and popular.

Initiatives such as the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Programme seek to support areas of high conservation importance that often host pangolins and other wildlife species. Integrated actions that include curbing poaching and wildlife trafficking, habitat protection, and improving the socio-economic conditions of people living in and around pangolin range areas are encouraged.

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