A pangolin Rehabilitated:Tribune Story

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Pangolin gets new home

Kanchan Vasdev

Tribune News Service

 

Ludhiana, August 22

A rare animal, Pangolin, which was rescued by People for Animals from Jalandhar

was rehabilitated into forest area near Sutlej here last evening with the joint

efforts of Forest Department and Care of Animals & Protection of Environment,

(CAPE), India.

 

The animal was brought to the city in a gunny bag and released into the forest

in the presence of experts. It took just 10 minutes to disappear from the place.

 

The Pangolin, named in the Red Data book of International Union for conservation

of Nature as it is nearing extinction was spotted by students of Lawrence

School, Jalandhar on their campus on Tuesday morning.

 

They contacted Dr G.S. Bedi of PFA Jalandhar, who in turn informed about this

animal to Dr Sandeep K. Jain, honorary wildlife warden and chief coordinator

CAPE- India, who identified it as a Pangolin. Bedi also informed forest

officials at Jalandhar who reached the site and decided to take it to Tiger

Safari, Ludhiana.

 

Dr Jain however spoke to chief wildlife warden, Punjab, to allow its

rehabilitation instead to keeping it in captivity. The animal was examined by

veterinary doctors and declared it fit to be released. CWW instructed the range

officer to release it in forest area near a water reservoir.

 

It was moved from Jalandhar in a Tata 407 in a wet gunny bag. Dr Jain said it

was an adult animal and was in good health. He added that the Pangolin is a

mammal having some characters of a reptile and was an endangered species. It was

protected under Section l of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

 

Found rarely in the foot hills of Shivalik, the Pangolin is also known as scaly

ant eater as it thrives upon ants, white ants and smaller insects.

 

Link

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070823/ldh1.htm#4