The sacred forest’s secret: first camera-trap evidence of the Chinese pangolin in Sunsari district, Nepal

Abstract The Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List because of illegal hunting, trafficking and habitat loss across its range. Although previously reported from many parts of Nepal, its presence in Sunsari district has remained unverified. We documented the first photographic evidence of the Chinese pangolin in Sunsari district through a short-term camera-trap survey in Panchakanya forest, a sacred but highly disturbed community forest in the Siwalik foothills. Two camera traps were rotated over 14 nights at selected trails and burrows in January 2025. After 7 nights, a male Chinese pangolin was recorded, confirming the species’ presence for the first time in this district. Field observations indicated abundant foraging signs linked to soft, moist soils supporting ant and termite colonies, aligning with the pangolin’s specialized diet and burrowing habits. This confirmed record increases the number of districts in which the Chinese pangolin has been documented in Nepal to 28. The presence of the Chinese pangolin in a fragmented, disturbed sacred forest highlights both the adaptability of this pangolin and the conservation value of culturally protected community forests outside protected areas.