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A not-for-profit organization working on the international trade of animals and plants, has brought out a fact sheet reporting that 1,203 pangolins have been found in illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018 to 2022.

Pangolins

IUCN status: Endangered

India is home to two species of pangolin.
While the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is found in northeastern India, the Indian Pangolin is distributed in other parts of the country as well as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Both these species are protected and are listed under the Schedule I Part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Commonly known as ‘scaly anteaters’, the toothless animals are unique, a result of millions of years of evolution.
Pangolins evolved scales as a means of protection. When threatened by big carnivores like lions or tigers they usually curl into a ball.
The scales defend them against dental attacks from the predators.

Why protect Pangolins?

Pangolins are currently the most trafficked wildlife species in the world.
These Scales has now become the main cause of the pangolin’s disappearance.
The scales are in high demand in China, where they are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Pangolin meat is also in high demand in China and Southeast Asia.
Consequently, pangolins have seen a rapid reduction in population globally. The projected population declines range from 50 per cent to 80 per cent across the genus.

Try this PYQ:

Consider the following animals:

Hedgehog

Marmot

Pangolin

To reduce the chance of being captured by predators which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1 and 3

Post your answers here.
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