JAMMU, July 13 —Troops of the Indian Army’s Gigrial Battalion rescued a critically endangered pangolin along the Indo-Pak International Border in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, officials said on Saturday.
The pangolin, considered one of the most trafficked and endangered mammals globally, was spotted during routine patrolling in a forward area. “The troops identified the animal in a vulnerable state, far from its natural habitat, and responded with swift and responsible action,” said a defence spokesperson.
Recognizing the ecological significance of the species and the grave threat it faces from illegal wildlife trafficking, soldiers carefully secured the animal and later handed it over to wildlife and forest authorities for safe rehabilitation.
“This act underscores the Indian Army’s dedication not only to national security but also to the preservation of India’s rich biodiversity,” the spokesperson added.
This marks the second such rescue in recent months. On January 10, a similar pangolin was saved from a forested area near the Line of Control in Rajouri district’s Sunderbani sector by army personnel in collaboration with the Wildlife Protection Department.
The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is listed as a Schedule-I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, offering it the highest level of legal protection in India. It is also categorized as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Wildlife officials praised the army’s timely intervention, saying such efforts are crucial in safeguarding species that are increasingly targeted for illegal trade.
