The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) has set up camera traps inside a community forest in Makawanpur to monitor the population and potential habitats of endangered Pangolin, locally known as Salak.

Seven cameras were installed inside the forest on the occasion of the World Pangolin Day on February 20.

“Pangolins are less known species but are among the most poached mammals on earth because of their growing demand in the market for meat and scales,” said Chiranjibi Pokhrel, project coordinator at NTNC. The NTNC has a plan of installing more camera traps in other pangolin habitats across the country. This, Pokhrel said, will help them determine the pangolin population.

“There hasn’t been a pangolin census so far. But we know that there has been a significant decline in their number with the rise in illegal pangolin trade. Their survival has been threatened and they need protection,” said Pokharel. The mid-hills, Churia and Mahabharat range are home to two of the seven pangolin species found globally. Chinese and Indian pangolins, both endangered, are found in Nepal.