JakartaGlobe-July 5
Illegal hunting and wildlife trade remain the main factors contributing to the endangerment of numerous species, including the Sunda Pangolin. This mammal, belonging to the pangolin family, is native to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The International Fund for Animal Welfare reports that pangolins are the most trafficked mammals globally, driven by the demand for their scales and claws in traditional medicine, while their meat is considered a delicacy in some Asian countries and consumed as bush meat in certain African countries. In addition to being victims of illegal trade, pangolins play a vital role in the ecosystem. They regulate the insect population and protect forests from termite destruction. Their digging action while feeding helps loosen and aerate the soil, distributing oxygen and essential nutrients that benefit the surrounding biodiversity. The Sunda Pangolin stands out with its unique physical characteristics. Its body is covered in hard, keratin scales, which make up about 20 percent of its body weight. When threatened, it can curl into a ball, using its overlapping scales as protective armor against predators. Despite having poor eyesight, this solitary mammal relies on its strong sense of smell and powerful claws to locate ant nests and termite mounds for food. Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER), the largest ecosystem restoration project in Sumatra, plays a crucial role in conserving the Sunda Pangolin (Manis Javanica), also known as Trenggiling Peusing in Indonesia. The RER area within the Kampar Peninsula has identified the presence of the Sunda Pangolin, one of the 78 mammal species found there. Classified as critically endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is one of the two critically endangered mammals in the RER area. Read more at:
