Some observations about the Chinese Pangolin

The observation 'one animal per burrow " may not be correct as I have seen burrows that may have been temporary burrows like the one above. These burrows are smaller and about 6 to 7 feet deep.
These burrows you see in the pics are all abandoned burrows. No scat around nor do you see any signs of recent activity. This burrow had mushroom growing inside it.

A burrow that does have a pangolin inside will be covered up with loose mud in the entrance. We have never disturbed a burrow with an animal inside.

A pangolin had been busy here feeding on ants.

We have noticed that many burrows are found in an area where a particular type of bamboo is found.The bamboo is called Mithae Baas in the local dialect literally meaning sweet bamboo.

The bamboo gets a heavy infestation of black ants during the months of late April, May and early June. This suits the Pangolin just fine as it is the season for it to bear pups. Sightings increase and so do the killings.

Another two "food burrows" as I call it . The pangolin digs such holes looking for ants and hence is not too popular with farmers who believe that our scaly friend causes landslides!

I am 5 ft 2 inches feet tall. Please note the length of the stick I am holding.

Also take a look at the flora around this is the Pangolin's natural habitat. It is also found in among the tea bushes in the surrounding tea gardens. It goes there looking for ants that plague the tea bushes. Tea garden workers, upon finding the animal generally beat the animal to death for its meat.

This too is an abandoned burrow. Mark how deep a pangolin burrow is.

This is how deep the burrow is before it turns. Based in this I can safely assume that a Pangolin burrow is about 12 to 15 feet deep. How about that!

Lastly ........ Speak up. Save the Pangolin.

Teachers Day 2009

Photos of the teachers day on the 5th of september. A programme entirely organised by the children. we all had fun!!

Updates on Save the Pangolin

The Forest Department is now raring to go on with a project proposal to take a count of the pangolins in and around Pokhriabong valley.They have visited Riverdale a couple of times in the past month for information that would help them collect data.
Working with the WWF are two enthusiasts Mr Sanjeev Pradhan Project Officer and Mr Dipesh Sunwar a really nice guy who is working on the Hililayan Black bear population census here in Darjeeling. They too have decided to do what they can from the WWF side. towards saving the Pangolin .

Bring A Friend To School Day Aug 15th

15th of August 2009 the 62nd year of our independence. Last year the children and teachers of Riverdale had started the idea of sharing whatever we have on this day. This year thanks to a friend Kendra Ravi Shrestha, the children were able to do the same again. They were asked to bring a friend each to the school. The friend was a child from their own villages attending a Government run school. The children were given notebooks and stationary as independence day gifts. After a game of football and lunch they went back home all smiles.

The Riverdale children are taught to share and think of others just as friends of the school so far away think of them. As for the guest children they had fun too.

Thanks Kendra from all of us.

Update on Save the Pangolin Campaign - August 2009

SEMINAR ON CHINESE PANGOLIN BY

FOREST DEPARTMENT, DARJEELING

Thanks to the support of all participants in Riverdale's "Save the Pangolin" Campaign in Pokhriabong over the last two years, the Forest Department in darjeeling is holding its first ever seminar for its officials at Manibhanjeyang on 03 August 2009. The aim of the seminar is to educate the forest department officials about the Chinese Pangolin and its endangered status. Hopefully this will be the harbinger of positive change and affirmative action towards the conservation of the Pangolin and its habitat in the Darjeeling hills.

As posted earlier, this year's annual run and awareness campaign will aim at distributing CFLs to homes in Pokhriabong. In addition to energy conservation through replacement of conventional incandescent bulbs with CFLs, the drive is to motivate locals to participate in Pangolin conservation and assist by providing timely information on captured animals. We have begun to receive enthusiatic support for this campaign. We thank you and hope to have more of you joining hands with us.

"Save The Pangolin" Campaign

THE CAMPAIGN IN 2008

During the last edition of the campaign including the “Save the Pangolin” Run conducted in the month of June 2008, the plan was to address the issue of the animal’s habitat. The poor economic status of the local hill-people precludes the use of modern cooking devices and they still rely on firewood. This directly affects the trees that are felled for wood and reduces the forest cover required for the survival of the Pangolin. The idea was to provide pressure cookers to the locals and encourage them to cook their staple food consisting essentially of rice, dal (lentils) and meat in these fuel-saving devices. Though it is only an intermediate step towards converting their cooking habits to gas or electricity, this economically viable measure will go a long way in reducing the cooking time and consequently the quantum of firewood utilised. For the poor people who cannot afford cooking by gas or electricity, this would be an acceptable solution. Consequent to appeals and publicity, support was mobilized and Riverdale hosted the "CONNECT WITH HIMALAYAS" Team from Mumbai led by Gaurav Punj and Rujuta Diwekar, who collected and distributed about 60 pressure cookers of 3 litre capacity among the economically weaker families in the area. This has translated into reduction in consumption of firewood, as envisaged.

INITIATIVE FOR 2009

The campaign initiative for the year 2009 will be towards removal of Incandescent Bulbs that are harmful to the environment and replace them with energy efficient and economical Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL). Each CFL will save electricity and contribute to the fight against global warming and pollution, even as they provide brighter lighting in the homes. The plan is to educate the local villagers of Pokhriabong Valley on the benefits of using CFLs in comparison to the harmful Incandescent Bulbs and distribute two CFLs to each home in the village where Riverdale Academy is situated. This program is scheduled for execution during this year’s edition of the annual "Save the Pangolin" campaign, tentatively scheduled for October-November 2009. This is to spread awareness and win the support of the locals towards the cause of saving the endangered Pangolin. The involvement of the local populace is important for the campaign so that they stop hunting the animal, protect its habitat and report any captures.

THE APPEAL

There is a requirement of 200 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) to be distributed among approximately one hundred homes in the vicinity of Riverdale in Pokhriabong. The locals earn less than 100 Rupees a day, and this amount is way too less for them to spend on CFLs costing 200 Rupees each. This is an appeal to environmentally conscious supporters of the cause of a Green Earth to come forward and contribute materially in terms of CFLs. This appeal for contribution goes out to manufacturers and distributors of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) as well, so that their support serves as an effective instrument for fulfilling their corporate social responsibility. The CFLs may be contributed by way of an arrangement for collection of the items from dealers / distributors located in Darjeeling or Siliguri.

Please contact Smrithi for further info and details - etriverdale@yahoo.co.in

Save The Pangolin