Spatial Distribution, Abundance, and Threats to the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Buner District, Lesser Himalayas.
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| Title: | Spatial Distribution, Abundance, and Threats to the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Buner District, Lesser Himalayas. |
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| Authors: | Saad, Muhammad1 (AUTHOR) msaad@student.usm.my, Mohd Sah, Shahrul Anuar1 (AUTHOR) sanuar@usm.my |
| Source: | Ecology & Evolution (20457758). May2026, Vol. 16 Issue 5, p1-10. 10p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Habitat selection, *Nature conservation, *Population biology, *Hazards, Pangolins, Spatial analysis (Statistics) |
| Geographic Terms: | Himalaya Mountains, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan), Pakistan |
| Abstract: | The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), an elusive and endangered mammal, remains poorly studied in Pakistan, particularly in the mountain landscapes of the Lesser Himalayas. This study provides the first detailed ecological baseline of the species' spatial distribution, burrow characteristics, habitat associations, and anthropogenic threats in District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, based on systematic field surveys conducted from October 2022 to September 2023. Using a stratified random sampling design, systematic surveys were conducted across 54 km2 of surveyed habitat along line transects and associated circular plots, resulting in the documentation of 127 pangolin burrows across four tehsils. These comprised feeding burrows (63.8%), inactive burrows (26.0%), and active resting (living) burrows (10.2%). The burrow‐based abundance patterns indicated that active burrows were primarily recorded between 300 and 700 m elevation, with occasional occurrences up to 1300 m, and were absent above this range. Burrow activity was highest in Mandanr Tehsil and was associated with north‐ and east‐facing slopes, loamy soils, rocky substrates, moderate canopy cover (41%–70%), and dense understory vegetation. Phytohabitat associations showed that resting burrows were frequently linked to Lantana camara and Punica granatum, whereas feeding burrows were commonly associated with Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia modesta, and prey‐rich substrates. Burrow concentrations were greatest within ecotonal zones between scrub forest and subtropical pine forest, while areas dominated by Pinus roxburghii, Juglans regia, and Quercus incana showed no evidence of pangolin presence. Two direct sightings and physical remains provided independent confirmation of species presence and suggested localized decline at some sites. Major threats identified through field observations and community surveys included poaching, illegal trade, habitat degradation, marble mining, and unregulated infrastructure development, exacerbated by weak law enforcement and low local awareness. This study provides a robust ecological baseline for M. crassicaudata in the Lesser Himalayas of Pakistan and informs targeted, context‐specific conservation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 194054924 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Spatial Distribution, Abundance, and Threats to the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Buner District, Lesser Himalayas. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Saad%2C+Muhammad%22">Saad, Muhammad</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> msaad@student.usm.my</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mohd+Sah%2C+Shahrul+Anuar%22">Mohd Sah, Shahrul Anuar</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sanuar@usm.my</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 16 Issue 5, p1-10. 10p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Habitat+selection%22">Habitat selection</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nature+conservation%22">Nature conservation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Population+biology%22">Population biology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hazards%22">Hazards</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pangolins%22">Pangolins</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+analysis+%28Statistics%29%22">Spatial analysis (Statistics)</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Himalaya+Mountains%22">Himalaya Mountains</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Khyber+Pakhtunkhwa+%28Pakistan%29%22">Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pakistan%22">Pakistan</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), an elusive and endangered mammal, remains poorly studied in Pakistan, particularly in the mountain landscapes of the Lesser Himalayas. This study provides the first detailed ecological baseline of the species' spatial distribution, burrow characteristics, habitat associations, and anthropogenic threats in District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, based on systematic field surveys conducted from October 2022 to September 2023. Using a stratified random sampling design, systematic surveys were conducted across 54 km2 of surveyed habitat along line transects and associated circular plots, resulting in the documentation of 127 pangolin burrows across four tehsils. These comprised feeding burrows (63.8%), inactive burrows (26.0%), and active resting (living) burrows (10.2%). The burrow‐based abundance patterns indicated that active burrows were primarily recorded between 300 and 700 m elevation, with occasional occurrences up to 1300 m, and were absent above this range. Burrow activity was highest in Mandanr Tehsil and was associated with north‐ and east‐facing slopes, loamy soils, rocky substrates, moderate canopy cover (41%–70%), and dense understory vegetation. Phytohabitat associations showed that resting burrows were frequently linked to Lantana camara and Punica granatum, whereas feeding burrows were commonly associated with Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia modesta, and prey‐rich substrates. Burrow concentrations were greatest within ecotonal zones between scrub forest and subtropical pine forest, while areas dominated by Pinus roxburghii, Juglans regia, and Quercus incana showed no evidence of pangolin presence. Two direct sightings and physical remains provided independent confirmation of species presence and suggested localized decline at some sites. Major threats identified through field observations and community surveys included poaching, illegal trade, habitat degradation, marble mining, and unregulated infrastructure development, exacerbated by weak law enforcement and low local awareness. This study provides a robust ecological baseline for M. crassicaudata in the Lesser Himalayas of Pakistan and informs targeted, context‐specific conservation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/ece3.73344 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 10 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Habitat selection Type: general – SubjectFull: Nature conservation Type: general – SubjectFull: Population biology Type: general – SubjectFull: Hazards Type: general – SubjectFull: Pangolins Type: general – SubjectFull: Spatial analysis (Statistics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Himalaya Mountains Type: general – SubjectFull: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan) Type: general – SubjectFull: Pakistan Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Spatial Distribution, Abundance, and Threats to the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Buner District, Lesser Himalayas. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Saad, Muhammad – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mohd Sah, Shahrul Anuar IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20457758 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 16 – Type: issue Value: 5 Titles: – TitleFull: Ecology & Evolution (20457758) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
