Rare Female Pangolin Rescued Near Temple in Odisha’s Ganjam District
Rescued animal weighs around 7 kg; forest officials to assess its health before release
Bhubaneswar: A rare female pangolin was rescued near the Barala Balunkeswar Temple in Khallikote of Odisha’s Ganjam district after two youths spotted the elusive mammal wandering near the temple premises late on Sunday.
The animal was found unharmed and subsequently handed over to the Khallikote forest range office, forest department sources said on Monday. The rescue has brought attention to the presence of the increasingly threatened species in areas close to human settlements and the need to ensure its protection.
The rescued pangolin weighs around 7 kg and measures approximately two feet in length. Forest personnel have kept it in a secure box to ensure its safety until the necessary health assessment is completed.
According to information available, the two youths noticed the animal while they were near the temple premises during the late-night hours. Recognising the unusual mammal, they intervened to ensure its safety and informed the concerned forest authorities. The animal was subsequently handed over to forest officials for further care.
The forest department is expected to conduct a health examination to assess the pangolin’s physical condition. If found fit for release, the animal is likely to be returned to its natural habitat. However, local forest officials were not available for comment on the rescue and the proposed release.
According to experts, pangolins are shy, nocturnal mammals that primarily feed on ants and termites. Covered in hard, overlapping scales, they curl into a ball when threatened, using their protective armour as a defence against predators. Despite this natural protection, pangolins face serious threats from illegal wildlife trafficking, hunting and habitat loss.
The species is particularly vulnerable because of the demand for its scales and meat in illegal wildlife markets. Pangolins are protected under Indian wildlife laws, and their capture, killing or trade is prohibited except as permitted by law.
The latest rescue follows a similar incident in Odisha on April 27, when a pangolin was rescued from Gobindpur–Srisundarpur village under the Phulnakhara forest range in Cuttack district after residents spotted it moving through a human settlement.
