Imagine a beast that laughs off lion attacks with a simple roll-up. Enter the Indian pangolin, a nocturnal nomad of India’s diverse landscapes – from steaming jungles to dusty scrublands. Dubbed the scaly anteater or thick-tailed pangolin, its body is clad in hard keratin scales that overlap like medieval armor, totaling 160 to 200 in earthy brown hues perfectly camouflaged against the ground.
Threat detected? It balls up instantly, scales interlocking into an unyielding sphere no claw can penetrate. Even tigers walk away defeated. At 84-122 cm long, plus a 33-47 cm tail and 10-20 kg weight, this solitary introvert thrives alone under moonlit skies, snoozing in burrows by day.
No tree-climber, it haunts ant and termite hotspots, wielding front claws to excavate feasts. But the star is its extraordinary tongue: extendable to over 40 cm, sticky with saliva, rooted unusually deep in the pelvis area. It probes cracks, slurping up ants, termite eggs, larvae, adults, and the odd beetle or roach – a nightly feast sustaining its insect-only diet.
Ecosystem hero? Absolutely. Controlling pest populations saves agriculture and woodlands untold damage. Burrowing improves soil health, circulation of air and moisture. Alarmingly, IUCN lists it endangered; India’s top wildlife law shields it under Schedule I. The culprits: ruthless hunters and global smugglers coveting scales for bogus cures and trinkets.
Frontline warriors like wildlife trusts team up with Madhya Pradesh officials, studying habitats and behaviors to forge salvation plans. This unassuming warrior, with its lion-proof shell and super-tongue, deserves our fierce protection. Will we rise to safeguard it before it’s too late?