In India’s forests, grasslands and shrublands, one may, with some luck, come across tigers, leopards, elephants, various deer species and innumerable birds. But it takes a lot of luck to encounter a pangolin. These shy, burrow-dwelling anteaters \u2013 the world\u2019s only scaled mammals \u2013 play a vital role as ecosystem engineers. As they build their burrows, they help to circulate organic matter in the soil and increase soil moisture and aeration, which is beneficial to plant communities. By feeding on ants and termites, they help to regulate populations of the insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Globally, eight pangolin species are found in Africa and Asia, and India is home to two: the Indian pangolin and the Chinese pangolin. The Indian pangolin<\/a>, assessed as globally Endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, is found across India up to the foothills of the Himalayas, while the Chinese pangolin<\/a>, Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, is restricted to the terai of eastern and north-eastern India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n