Pangolins on the Brink: Northeast India’s silent wildlife crisis fueled by greed and trafficking

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 14, 2025

In the dense forests of Northeast India, a wildlife catastrophe is unfolding in silence. Pangolins—the world’s most trafficked mammals—are being hunted to near extinction, driven by a ruthless underground trade network that ties into drugs, arms, and human trafficking.

Despite their ‘Critically Endangered’ status and protection under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, these elusive creatures continue to be slaughtered for their scales and meat, fueling black-market demand across Asia.

Between 2018 and 2022, India recorded 342 pangolin trafficking incidents, accounting for over 1,200 individuals. The Northeast—particularly Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur—has become a key transit hub, with alarming seizures pointing to deep-rooted international syndicates.

“Extensive poaching and illegal trade networks are pushing these shy, nocturnal creatures to the brink,” said Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, secretary-general and CEO of Aaranyak, a leading biodiversity conservation organization.

For many local hunters in Northeast India, pangolin poaching offers quick, high-reward income, often equating to four months’ earnings from a single kill. According to Ivy Farheen Hussain, senior project officer at Aaranyak, economic hardship and external demand from international markets make poaching a dangerously lucrative trade.

Amidst this crisis, Aaranyak has been proactive in addressing this crisis through its Legal and Advocacy Division. Aaranyak is leading the charge to curb pangolin trafficking through multi-pronged efforts.

Collaborating with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and other law enforcement and border security agencies, Aaranyak conducts regular training sessions to enhance vigilance along India’s porous borders.

Community Surveillance: Formation of Community Surveillance and Monitoring Teams (CSMT) across key areas, empowering locals to act as the first line of defence against poachers.

Strengthening enforcement mechanisms by assisting agencies in wildlife crime investigations and legal proceedings.

Through Disrupt and End Trade of Endangered and Rare Species (DETERS), Aaranyak provides real-time intelligence and digital surveillance tools to enforcement agencies, making major inroads in dismantling trafficking networks.

With another species—the Indo-Burmese Pangolin—discovered last year in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, hope remains. However, without immediate and coordinated action, pangolins in Northeast India face an irreversible fate.

“The time to act is NOW. If we don’t step up enforcement, enhance community participation, and strengthen international cooperation, we risk losing these remarkable creatures forever,” warns Aaranyak.

The fate of pangolins in Northeast India hangs by a thread. Proactive efforts to sensitise and aware the officials from different law enforcement agencies in the NE region is the need of the hour to check illegal killing and trade of Pangolins. Team Aaranyak shall be delighted to help in any orientation initiatives. If immediate and stringent actions are not taken, we risk losing these remarkable creatures forever. What comes up as a grim hope in these trying times is the discovery of another species of pangolins – the Indo-Burmese Pangolins just early last year distributed over Assam and Arunachal Pradesh regions. Strengthened law enforcement, community participation and international cooperation are central steps to ensure the survival of these threatened species. The time to act is NOW—before it’s too late. With mutual collaboration and cooperation, we are sure that we can make a vast and positive change to secure the future of these scaled beauties.