The Sangtam community of Nagaland has passed a resolution to protect pangolins across its traditional lands, responding to escalating poaching and organised wildlife trafficking in the Northeast.
The resolution, adopted by the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji, the apex body of the community, was made in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). The initiative follows earlier community-led conservation successes, including the Tangkhul Naga community of Manipur’s Ukhrul district, which in August 2024 banned hunting of Chinese pangolins and extended protections to gibbons and hornbills in June 2025.
Nagaland’s Kiphire and Tuensang districts, bordering Myanmar, are part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, rich in wildlife but vulnerable to trafficking due to porous borders. Pangolins, commonly called “scaly anteaters”, are the world’s most trafficked mammals, targeted for keratin scales used in traditional medicine and their meat. Both Chinese and Indian pangolins, found in India, are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and listed under CITES Appendix I, banning international commercial trade.
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Illegal wildlife trade remains rampant in the northeastern states. Large-scale seizures in Assam and Meghalaya highlight organised networks targeting pangolins. In October 2025, 220 kilograms of pangolin scales were recovered at Barpeta Road Railway Station. Subsequent operations in November 2025 and February 2026 led to additional seizures, including pangolin scales, Tokay Geckos, and Slow Lorises.
Despite a 2020 domestic ban on pangolin trade in China, demand continues, threatening populations. Of the eight global pangolin species, four are found in Asia, with the Chinese, Sunda, and Philippine species listed as Critically Endangered, and populations declining by more than 80 percent due to hunting and habitat loss. Conservationists warn that every kilogram of scales requires the killing of three to four animals, making the species highly vulnerable.
Community-led protection is key to the survival of pangolins in the region. By integrating traditional governance systems with wildlife conservation, the Sangtam initiative aims to strengthen local enforcement, curb illegal trade, and ensure the long-term survival of these nocturnal, slow-moving mammals in the biodiversity-rich landscapes of Nagaland.
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