Thane Crime Branch Unit 1 on Thursday night arrested three men and rescued a pangolin, which they were trying to sell for a hefty sum. However, what has left animal activists alarmed is that this is the second live pangolin - an endangered mammal that has been rescued from being traded in last nine months from Thane, hinting at the presence of a bigger poaching network operating in and around the city.
Thane Crime Branch Unit 1 on Thursday night arrested three men and rescued a pangolin, which they were trying to sell for a hefty sum. However, what has left animal activists alarmed is that this is the second live pangolin - an endangered mammal that has been rescued from being traded in last nine months from Thane, hinting at the presence of a bigger poaching network operating in and around the city.
Pangolins are scale-covered mammals and are conferred the same protection as that of a tiger. They are extensively poached for their scales, which commands huge price internationally and finds its use in traditional Asian medicines and aphrodisiac. Locally, it is also hunted for meat.
The pangolin feeding
As per cops, the three accused - Roha resident Devji Sawant (42) and Sanjay Bhosale (46) along with Pen resident Ramdas Patil (56) were apprehended opposite Mahalaxmi temple on the Saket road near a bridge on the road leading towards Balkum around 8.30pm. The cops along with forest department are carrying out investigations to understand how the trio were operating and involvement of others.
Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Thane said that the cops alerted them, and they sent their team to assist.
“We took the custody of the pangolin and it was sent to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) for medical check-up and since it’s been declared fit to be released,” he said adding that given the fact that this is the second pangolin seized they are on alert and have also informed Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to interrogate the accused to find if there is a bigger racket operating.
Pawan Sharma, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Thane who was part of the forest department's team said that the pangolin was kept in a plastic sack due to which it was in trauma and dehydration and the animal was stabilized, hydrated and allowed to settle on the Thursday night and then taken to SGNP on Friday.
Dr Shailesh Pethe, Veterinary Officer for SGNP who carried out medical examination of the Pangolin said that it was a female who weighed 9kg. “She was fit and had few bruises, which was dressed. Since these pangolins are very selective eaters and survive on insects like termites we took it to a nearby termite hill in SGNP and allowed it to feed,” he said.
By evening 8 pm the forest department's team got permissions to release the pangolin in its natural habitat. "Since it’s a healthy animal we wanted to release it as soon as possible and we are glad that we could ensure its release in such quick time," said Sharma.
Before this it was in February that Thane crime branch unit-5 had rescued a pangolin and arrested two Ratnagiri residents for trying to sell it.
Wildlife activists claimed that Maharashtra was well known for pangolin poaching especially the Western Ghats including Konkan area. "Poachers are known to approach the local villagers and ask them to help locate the pangolin burrows for a good sum in return,” said the source.
What are Pangolins?
They are called scaly anteaters due their structure and food habits.
Have no teeth and an inability to chew, feed mostly on ants and termites using their long tongue to catch them.
Two Species found in India - Indian Pangolin and Chinese Pangolin
Pangolin's troubles
Meat is considered delicacy among various communities and also due to some alleged medicinal values.
Scales are used in traditional oriental medicines as an aphrodisiac and to cure ailments ranging from asthma and psoriasis to cancer.
Bile and claws are reportedly used by several tribal communities
How are they hunted?
Pangolins are smoked or dug out of their burrows and dipped into boiling water to extract the scales. Poachers, who are contacted by traffickers, lure local tribals to locate the animal about which there is little public knowledge
If you kill one
Hunting or trade in pangolins in India is a criminal offence leading to imprisonment for between 3 and 7 years and a fine of not less than Rupees 10000
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