There is no natural habitat available for the pangolin to live permanently in Khandad village of Raigad district or the surrounding areas. Therefore, a wildlife researcher speculated that the pangolin may have come here from somewhere in the dense forests during flow of the river Kal during the current flood
The pangolin is of immense importance in the wild and plays a vital role in maintaining natural ecosystems. PIC/Shantanu Kuveskar
On Friday around 9.30 pm, a local youth, Raju Pawar, was on his way to the Sonbhairav temple on his two-wheeler in Khandad village, Mangaon, in Maharashtra's Raigad district when he saw an unknown and unusual animal on the ground near the village. Raju Pawar and his friend Shashikant Pawar stopped to get a closer look of the animal. As there was a meeting of the villagers in the temple premises, a crowd had gathered to observe the unfamiliar animal. The villagers immediately contacted Shantanu Kuveskar, a wildlife researcher from Mangaon.
Kuveskar reached the spot and informed the forest department about the sighting. Until the forest guard reached the spot, Kuveskar explained about the animal to the villagers of Khandad.
There is no natural habitat available for the pangolin to live permanently in Khandad village or its surrounding areas. Therefore, Kuveskar speculated that the pangolin may have swept into the village during the recent flooding of the Kal river.
The villagers in Khandad said this is the first time that they had seen a rare wild animal in the village. There is a river near the village where crocodiles are always present, but no dense forest nearby. The villagers of Khandad are very sensitive about wildlife and environment. They protected the pangolin from stray dogs and other dangers in the area before the forest guard and the Kuveskar intervened. Former Mangaon Mayor, Dnyandev Pawar, village president Kashiram Powar, and village police patil Nathuram Powar were present at the scene along with all the locals.
The pangolin, which is said to be healthy, was immediately handed over to the forest department through Kuveskar. After that, at night, under the guidance of the deputy conservator of forest, Shailendra Kumar Jadhav, and assistant deputy conservator of forest Rohit Chaubey, and on the instructions from the forest range officer of Mangaon, Prashant Shinde, the pangolin was released after taking appropriate action. Forest Subhedar and forest guards Vaishali Bhor, Pavan Chaudhari, Santosh Pingala, Rani Limbore and driver Vivek Jadhav also assisted the rescue operation.
"The Indian Pangolin is the most trafficked animal in the world and is very sensitive. It has the highest status and highest level of protection under the Wildlife Protection Act. The villagers of Khandad village have done a commendable job of protecting the wild animal in town," said Shailendra Kumar Jadhav.
"In flood situations, the wildlife also gets affected. Due to the flood water, the wild animals enter villages for shelter near human settlements or get stranded around. If you come across any wildlife in human settlements, you should immediately contact the local forest department without causing any harm to the animal," said Rohit Chaubey.
"The pangolin has immense importance in wild nature and is an important part of natural ecosystem. It plays a valuable role in nature maintaining natural pest control and habitats health," said Kuveskar.
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