The second pangolin is discovered in the house of a local villager. [Photo/66wz.com]
Rescuers from Yongjia county in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang province have in the past 10 days released two pangolins into the wild, local media outlets reported.
The first pangolin, a female 62 centimeters long and weighing 1.95 kilograms, was discovered by a local resident at the roadside. The second one, 78 cm long and weighing 3.2 kg, had entered the home of a local farmer and was later caught by workers from local wildlife protection authorities.
The pangolin, also known as manis pentadactyla, is under national first-class protection in China. The animals mainly inhabit humid areas of forests on hills, foothills and plains. They mainly feed on termites and bees, and have been dubbed "guardians of the forest".
Dai Huiming, director at the wildlife conservation center of the Yongjia county natural resources and planning bureau, said the recent occurrence of pangolins indicated that there may be a wild pangolin population in Yongjia.
"The last time a wild pangolin appeared in Yongjia was 2001. We are planning to set more infrared devices on the mountains for monitoring," Dai said.
Residents who discovered the two pangolins were also issued honorary certificates by the bureau for their good deed.
"The number of rescues this year clearly shows the increasing awareness of wildlife conservation among the public," said Jin Zhebo, a chief rescuer from the local wildlife conservation association.
Residents who come across wildlife animals are encouraged to take photos and videos, get an idea of the animals' situation, and call professional rescuers for help. It is better to leave the animals alone if there are no obvious injuries.
