A pangolin that was rescued from Kasthuri Naickenpalayam near Coimbatore.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
An Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) rescued from a residential area at Kasthuri Naickenpalayam near Coimbatore was released into the forest late on Saturday, August 30, 2026..Forest Department sources said that a resident of Kasthuri Naickenpalayam alerted staff attached to Coimbatore forest range and local non-governmental organisation Coimbatore Wildlife Conservation Trust (CWCT) after spotting the scaly mammal on Saturday night. The staff and volunteers from CWCT rushed to the spot and rescued it. The animal did not have injuries and it was safely shifted from the place.“Indian pangolin is listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act. The staff immediately shifted the animal to a reserve forest area where it was released,” said V. Thirumurugan, Forest Range Officer, Coimbatore range.An exclusive insectivore, Indian pangolin is one of the most trafficked protected species in the world and is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is classified as an ‘endangered’ species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as per the last assessment done in 2019.Mr. Thirumurugan said that the place from where the pangolin was rescued is about five km away from the nearest forest boundary. “Considering its conservation importance, our staff responded quickly”, he added. Published - August 30, 2026 07:54 pm IST
