TBI TEAM 14 July 2025
What Happened? In Akhnoor, near the Line of Control in Jammu, Indian Army troops came across a strange sight — a curled-up creature, unmoving but alive. It was a pangolin, one of the world’s rarest mammals. Instead of ignoring it, the soldiers did something rare too — they rescued it.
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Who Were the Heroes? This rescue was carried out by alert troops stationed in a sensitive border area. They contacted the Wildlife Department immediately and handed over the animal safely. In a zone known more for conflict than conservation, this became an act of quiet heroism.
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Why Are We Talking About This Creature? Most people in India have never seen a pangolin. They are nocturnal, solitary, and stay hidden underground. But more importantly — they’re disappearing faster than we realise.
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The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal More than 1 million pangolins have been trafficked globally in just the last decade. In India alone, 1,203 pangolins were seized in trafficking cases across 23 states.
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Their only defence is to roll into a ball — which sadly makes them easier to pick up and smuggle. Their scales are sold in illegal markets, despite being made of keratin, like human nails. There is no scientific evidence that pangolin scales have medicinal value.
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Where Do India’s Pangolins Stand? India is home to: The Indian Pangolin (Endangered) The Chinese Pangolin (Critically Endangered) Both are protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act. But law enforcement struggles to keep up with illegal trade.
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What’s Being Done to Protect Them? Organisations like TRAFFIC India, WCCB, and state forest departments are tracking trade routes, conducting raids, and spreading awareness. Rescues like the one in Akhnoor show that training and awareness among forces on the ground can make a real difference.
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What Role Do Pangolins Play in Nature? Pangolins help maintain balance in ecosystems. They consume up to 70 million ants and termites a year, naturally protecting crops and forests. They are key to soil health and biodiversity, especially in forest-edge farmlands.
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Did You Know This? – Pangolins have no teeth – They rely entirely on a long, sticky tongue to eat – They’re the only mammals completely covered in scales Pangolins don’t bite, bark, or fight — they vanish silently
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This Rescue Is a Reminder In a place where wildlife is rarely protected, one quiet rescue stood out. And for a species disappearing in silence, that one moment of care can mean everything.
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