Home / Environment / Guangdong Establishes First Pangolin Baseline Population
Guangdong Establishes First Pangolin Baseline Population
3 Apr
Summary
- Guangdong's wild Chinese pangolin population is estimated at 1,778.
- Pangolin numbers are recovering in primary Guangdong distribution hubs.
- Over 690 infrared cameras deployed for species monitoring since 2020.
Guangdong province has established the inaugural baseline population count for wild Chinese pangolins, a species critically endangered and under first-class national protection. An estimated 1,778 individuals now inhabit the region, with a density of 0.33 individuals per square kilometer.
Populations are showing signs of steady recovery in certain areas, especially within the primary distribution hubs of Meizhou, Heyuan, and Huizhou. Habitat quality in these zones continues to improve, supported by provincial authorities' comprehensive monitoring efforts initiated in 2020. This initiative involves the strategic deployment of 690 infrared cameras across key habitats.
These scaly mammals, existing for at least 50 million years, have faced severe population declines due to illegal hunting, wildlife trafficking, and deforestation. China has significantly elevated their protection status and is making progress in conservation, including advancements in artificial breeding technology and establishing a nationwide network of key terrestrial wildlife habitats.
