Pangolins in peril: using local hunters’ knowledge to conserve elusive species in Vietnam

Abstract

Pangolins are among the most valuable and widely traded taxa in the Southeast Asian illegal wildlife trade, yet little is known of their ecology and they are rarely reported in biodiversity surveys. Firstly, this study collated field and museum reports to produce the first distribution maps for the pangolins Manis pentadactyla and M. javanica in Vietnam. We also demonstrated that current biodiversity monitoring methods are rarely successful in recording pangolin presence and that most of the information about their distribution derives from the knowledge of local hunters. Secondly, semi-structured interviews with hunters revealed that the methods used to catch pangolins differed depending on species and site and suggest that the more terrestrial populations of M . pentadactyla are at greater risk from hunting than the more arboreal M. javanica. We highlight the value of applying local hunters' knowledge to developing ecological study methods and conservation programmes for pangolin species in Southeast Asia.

Historical data for conservation: reconstructing range changes of Chinese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla ) in eastern China (1970–2016)

“…We also conducted semi-structured interviews with local people to collect data for occurrences after the year 2000 [12,33,34]. Conflicting records with unsubstantiated metadata, such as those lacking relevant or detailed descriptions, were excluded from the analysis.…”

Himalayan Vultures in Khodpe, far-west Nepal: is there any threat?

“…We conducted a semi-structured interview and questionnaire survey (Newton et al 2008) with 100 respondents randomly from different disciplines like school teachers, herders, community forest user groups, forest officers, local people etc. in order to identify associated threats to the Himalayan Vultures.…”

Gap analysis and implications for seasonal management on a local scale

“…In response to these problem and resources limitations for conservation, research efforts need to focus on with data shortage. Wildlife monitoring data from infrared-triggered camera trapping, field surveys, and interviews have been successfully applied in numerous conservation studies (He et al, 2016; Lescureux et al, 2011; Li et al, 2010; Newton et al, 2008; Rovero & Marshall, 2009; Villette et al, 2016). Combining data from multiple sources into a single dataset can ameliorate the data shortage that often limits local studies.…”