The Malayan Pangolin, also known as the Sunda Pangolin, is a nocturnal mammal found in Southeast Asia. It is distinguished by its body, almost entirely covered in tough, overlapping scales, making it the only known scaly mammal.
Distinctive Features and Behavior
The Malayan Pangolin’s body is covered in large, protective keratin scales, similar to human fingernails, which vary in color from light brown to olive. These scales overlap like artichoke leaves, providing a natural suit of armor that covers nearly its entire body, except for the underside. The scales make up approximately 20% of the pangolin’s body weight.
It lacks teeth and instead uses an extraordinarily long, sticky tongue, which can extend up to 40 cm, to capture insects. The tongue is covered with sticky saliva. The pangolin also has powerful claws, used for digging into insect mounds and climbing trees. When threatened, its primary defense mechanism is to curl into a tight, impenetrable ball, protecting its vulnerable underside. This behavior unfortunately makes it easy for poachers to capture.
Natural Habitat and Diet
Malayan Pangolins inhabit the Indomalayan regions of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore. They are adaptable, found in various landscapes like tropical forests, open savannahs, and cultivated areas. While primarily terrestrial, residing in burrows they dig or borrow, they are also agile climbers, spending time in trees for resting or foraging.
Their diet consists predominantly of ants and termites, earning them the nickname “scaly anteaters.” An adult pangolin can consume an estimated 70 million insects annually, playing a significant role in controlling insect populations. They locate insect nests using a well-developed sense of smell. Their strong front claws tear into mounds, stumps, and fallen logs, and their long, sticky tongues collect the insects. Some pangolins ingest small stones, or gastroliths, which accumulate in their gizzard-like stomachs to help grind up prey, as they cannot chew.
The Conservation Crisis
The Malayan Pangolin faces significant threats, making it one of the most trafficked mammals globally. The primary driver is the illegal wildlife trade, fueled by demand for its meat, considered a delicacy, and its scales, used in traditional medicine. Despite a lack of scientific evidence for the medicinal properties of keratin scales, a 2015 survey indicated that 70% of Chinese individuals believed pangolin products held medicinal value. This demand has led to a drastic decline in wild populations, with estimates suggesting over two million pangolins were poached between 2000 and 2024.
Habitat loss and degradation also contribute to the pangolin’s precarious situation. As human development encroaches on their habitats, these shy animals become more accessible to poachers. Their slow reproductive rate, typically producing one, or rarely two, offspring per year, further exacerbates the population decline. The combination of poaching pressure and shrinking habitats places immense strain on the Malayan Pangolin, pushing it closer to extinction.
Protecting the Malayan Pangolin
Protecting the Malayan Pangolin involves a multi-faceted approach. International agreements, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), have recognized the situation’s severity. In 2016, all eight pangolin species, including the Malayan Pangolin, received the highest level of protection by CITES, banning all commercial international trade in wild-caught specimens. This uplisting to CITES Appendix I strengthens domestic protection in key countries.
Conservation efforts also include anti-poaching initiatives, such as deploying trained K9 units to detect illegal wildlife products and regular patrols. Rehabilitation centers provide care for rescued pangolins, though their specialized diet makes them challenging to maintain in captivity. Public awareness campaigns, like the #WeAreASEANBiodiversity campaign, educate communities about pangolins and encourage citizen involvement. Research into pangolin behavior and ecology is ongoing to inform more effective conservation strategies and ensure their survival.