Characteristics, location, and usage patterns of resting burrows in Chinese pangolins: Insights from radio-telemetry tracking
The Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla, a burrowing mammal, relies on burrows for foraging, shelter, and rearing its young. Pangolin burrows are typically classified as either resting (or resident) or feeding burrows. Resting burrows, in particular, are crucial for the pangolin’s survival, offering...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000071 |
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| Summary: | The Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla, a burrowing mammal, relies on burrows for foraging, shelter, and rearing its young. Pangolin burrows are typically classified as either resting (or resident) or feeding burrows. Resting burrows, in particular, are crucial for the pangolin’s survival, offering shelter, protection, and stability for the pangolin, especially during colder months and breeding seasons. Consequently, understanding the characteristics and usage patterns of resting burrows is critical for effective in-situ and ex-situ conservation efforts. This study assessed the density of resting burrows using sign surveys along line transects in a fragmented agricultural landscape. Additionally, radio telemetry was employed to specifically locate and characterize the resting burrows of seven Chinese pangolins (1 male and 6 females), as well as to analyze their usage patterns. The results revealed a burrow density of 110.8 per ha, with no significant variation across different environments. However, Chinese pangolins preferred resting burrows in areas with minimal human disturbance. Over tracking periods ranging from 52 to 327 days, female pangolins used between 12 and 32 resting burrows, while a single male pangolin used 48 resting burrows. Pangolins occupied individual burrows for up to 10 days during colder months and breeding seasons. Notably, resting burrows were frequently shared among individuals. Activity patterns showed that pangolins typically exited their burrows between 6:00 PM and 12:00 AM and entered their burrows between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM. To conclude the findings:1) burrow count, while useful for identifying pangolin presence, is not a suitable quantitative indicator of population density. 2) Most resting burrows had compacted soil at the entrance, which could be mistaken for old or inactive burrows in other studies. 3) Resting burrows function as permanent structures that are reused across seasons instead of seasonal adaptations. 4) Preserving low-disturbance habitats will be critical for ensuring sufficient resting burrow sites, thereby supporting the long-term viability of pangolin populations. These results provide valuable insights into the usage patterns of resting burrows, thus enriching the understanding of pangolin behavior, ecological requirements and conservation strategies for this endangered species. |
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| ISSN: | 2351-9894 |