Pangolins serve multiple essential roles, both ecologically and in human culture. As insectivores, pangolins control populations of ants and termites, consuming up to 70 million insects each year. This regulation helps maintain the health of forests, farmlands, and protects trees from pest outbreaks[2][4]. By keeping these insect populations in check, pangolins prevent expensive damage caused by pests and support the natural control of infestations[4].
Pangolins are also considered “ecosystem engineers.” Their burrowing activity aerates soil, recycles nutrients, and promotes mineral fixation. This enhances soil health, improves plant growth, and enables better nutrient circulation[1][2][5]. The burrows they abandon become vital shelters for various small animals, reptiles, birds, and mammals, especially after environmental disturbances like wildfires[1][3][5]. Studies have shown that sites with pangolin burrows exhibit higher biodiversity and faster ecosystem recovery than areas without burrows[1][3].
Beyond their ecological functions, pangolins are deeply embedded in traditional medicine and cuisine in parts of Asia and Africa. Their meat is considered a delicacy in certain regions, and their scales are used in traditional medicine to treat conditions such as rheumatism, inflammation, mammary gland blockage, and wounds[6][8]. In Vietnam and China, the purported medicinal benefits of pangolin scales have driven illegal trade and contributed to the species’ rapid decline, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting these uses and the health risks involved[8].
Due to their unique roles and the demand for their body parts, all eight species of pangolins are now critically endangered, with international bans and intensified conservation efforts in place to stop trafficking and protect their ecological functions[6][7].
References
- [1] Pangolin burrows are biodiversity magnets in burnt forests, study shows
- [2] Why Pangolins? – One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI)
- [3] Pangolins help biodiversity recover after fires – Rhett Ayers Butler
- [4] Pangolins – Facts, Habitat, Endangered Status | Species Spotlight
- [5] pangolins: ecosystem gardeners worth conserving
- [6] WildAid’s Pangolin Priority: Saving the Most Trafficked Wild Mammal
- [7] The ecological impact on the distribution of Pangolins in Deng-Deng
- [8] Pangolins and Traditional Medicine in Vietnam: The Effort … – WildAid
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