Researchers Race Against Time: Unlocking the Genetic Secrets of Critically Endangered Pangolins
Two critically endangered pangolin species, the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica), are one step closer to receiving vital conservation aid thanks to groundbreaking genomic research.
Scientists from the Guangdong Academy of Forestry and Northeast Forestry University have assembled chromosome-scale genomes for these unique creatures, shedding light on their genetic vulnerabilities and the urgent need for conservation efforts.
The distribution area and sampling sites of the Chinese and Malayan pangolins. Image credit: Lan et al., doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giaf003.
The pangolin, often referred to as a living fossil, possesses a remarkable set of biological traits, including overlapping keratin scales covering its body, a specialized diet, a long muscular tongue, and excellent olfactory senses. Sadly, these fascinating creatures are now facing a perilous future.
Traditionall practitioners have utilized pangolin scales and meat for medicinal purposes and culinary delights, leading to unsustainable poaching and trafficking.
Currently, pangolins are the world’s most trafficked wild animals, with over 900,000 poached in the last two decades. Asian pangolins, particularly the Malayan and Chinese species, are the hardest hit, teetering on the brink of extinction.
The critical situation has led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify both species as Critically Endangered since 2014.
“With World Pangolin Day being celebrated on February 15th, the release of new high-quality genomic data for these species serves as a powerful reminder of their genetic vulnerabilities and the grave extinction risks they face,” explained Yan Hua, a researcher at the Guangdong Academy of Forestry, and her colleagues.
The researchers focused on generating genome sequences at a significantly higher resolution for both species. This comprehensive genomic data reveals essential information about their genetic health and long-term survival prospects.
Analyzing the genetic diversity within these populations revealed a surprising amount of variation, a positive indicator for the overall genetic health. However, their research also uncovered concerning findings: some populations are more vulnerable to extinction than others.
Specifically, genetic data from one population indicates a rapid and severe decline over the past 10,000 years, placing it at a very high risk of extinction. Furthermore, analysis of a pangolin specimen from Taiwan yielded similarly alarming results.
“Future research is crucial for understanding the extent to which specific pangolin populations are at risk of extinction,” said the researchers. “We need to pay closer attention to local differences among these populations as these insights can guide genetic rescue efforts, a critical tool in conservation.”
These findings offer a blueprint for tailored conservation actions.
The study was published in the journal GigaScience and provides a critical foundation for pangolin conservation. The researchers emphasize the need for continued research and global collaboration to safeguard these magnificent creatures from extinction.
Read the full research paper here.
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Tianming Lan et al. 2025. Enhancing inbreeding estimation and global conservation insights through chromosome-level assemblies of the Chinese and Malayan pangolin. GigaScience 14: giaf003; doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giaf003
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