Guwahati, August 30, 2024 — An endangered pangolin was rescued by the swift actions of local youths and the Assam Forest Department in Khutabari village, Goalpara district. The rescue took place on Thursday night after villagers spotted the rare animal and immediately alerted the Pancharatna Zonal Forest Department Office.
Forest officials, accompanied by local volunteers, quickly arrived at the scene and successfully secured the pangolin, which weighed approximately three kilograms and measured 1.5 meters in length. The animal was safely transported to the Pancharatna Zonal Forest Office and later released into the Pancharatna Reserved Forest.
Forest officials commended the Khutabari villagers, particularly the youth, for their prompt response and concern for the endangered species. The presence of the pangolin in the Pancharatna Reserved Forest highlights the importance of such habitats in conserving vulnerable wildlife.
This rescue is particularly significant as it follows a recent crackdown on illegal wildlife trade in the region. On August 11, 2024, the Assam Forest Department arrested four poachers in Daranggiri, who were found in possession of pangolin scales—a highly sought-after item in the black market due to its use in traditional medicine. Despite the high value of pangolin scales, scientific evidence debunks their medicinal efficacy, and the illegal trade continues to threaten pangolin populations globally.
With over a million pangolins poached in the past decade, their scales can fetch over 2.5 lakh rupees (around $3000) per kilogram on the black market. The successful rescue in Goalpara serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and community involvement in wildlife conservation efforts.