21 th April 2005
WWF – Pakistan releases a Pangolin back into habitat

Lahore–WWF - Pakistan safely released a Pangolin (Scaly Anteater) back into the wild in the Lahore Park in Raiwind.

Mr. Salman Iqbal, a WAPDA official, had brought the Pangolin to his residence after he found it being harassed by children just outside the Lahore Zoo, where someone had brought it to be sold to the Zoo authorities. Mr Salman Iqbal then contacted WWF – Pakistan and asked for their assistance in its protection and management. After receiving the information WWF – Pakistan arranged for the animal to be released in its natural habitat. WWF - Pakistan wildlife biologist Uzma Khan said, “The Pangolin had dug a burrow in the garden, the burrow was exposed to take the pangolin out, who had a tight grip of the ground with its sharp claws. It curled up its body when it was taken out from the burrow and this is known as its defence position. Pangolin weighed 12 kg and its length from head to toe was 66 cm with a tail measuring up to 56 cm.”
Pangolins are adapted to feed exclusively on ants and termites and their eggs, this makes them very difficult to maintain in captivity. They offer huge economic benefits to humans because they control termites population that can be very harmful to our crops and buildings. Pangolins are harmless to humans. They use their forelegs to dig burrows and tend to emerge at night for feeding.
Increasing human population and development has brought wildlife into direct contact with humans. It needed to make people aware of the importance of wildlife and its conservation, which is vital for maintaining the ecological balance.

For further information:
Amjad Aslam, WWF – Pakistan,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
UAN: 111-WWF-PAK(993-725)
Tel: +92 42 5862360, 5869429,
Fax: 042 5862358,
e-mail: aaslam@wwf.org.pk