Riverdale's Environmental Campaign 2009

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 .