56 J. M. Martin et al.


TABLE 1 Ad hoc pangolin marking methods by species and origin (recovered from trade vs wild caught for research purposes). We iden- tified eight pangolin conservation programmes using ad hoc marking as a supplementary tracking technique for four pangolin species. Several programmes are working across multiple species.


Species Sunda pangolin Manis javanica


Temminck’s pangolin Smutsia temminckii White-bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis


Black-bellied pangolin Phataginus tetradactyla Results


We created the Pangolin Universal Notching System by adapting and combining existing hard-shell turtle (Nagle et al., 2017) and ungulate (Blair, 1941)marking methodologies. The system uses a numerical-based code to communicate individual identification and/or sex through a series of notches involving scales on or adjacent to the dorsal midline (Fig. 1a). We selected a numerical-based code to accommodate the growing catalogue of pangolin individuals and provide the ability to rapidly assess sex.We determined that drilling a centrally located area, proportional to scale size, would minimize the likelihood of scale breakage. The codes are assigned and read whilst viewing the pan-


golin from its dorsal side, with the head facing away from and the tail towards the observer (Fig. 1a). The first scale immediately left of the midline scale row at the pectoral girdle (shoulder) and the first scale immediately right of the midline scale row at the pectoral girdle are always labelled 1 and 100, respectively. The pectoral girdles and the scapula (shoulder blade) can be palpated beneath the scales to identify the starting location. This location can also be identified by locating the change in scale morpho- logy that delineates the smaller, thinner head and neck scales from the thicker, wider trunk scales (Challender et al., 2019). Once the starting point is identified, the first eight scales on each side of the midline row are numbered. Moving towards the tail from the starting location on the left side, scales are numbered 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 20, 40 and 70.Moving towards the tail from the starting location on the right side scales are numbered 100, 200, 400, 700, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 and 7,000. Scale numbers are marked cumulatively to attain the number required. The midline scale row is used to indi- cate the sex of the individual. Formales, the first scale in the midline, between scales numbered 1 and 100, ismarked. For females, the fifth scale, between scales numbered 10 and 1,000, is marked. For example, to assign a male pangolin the unique identification code 7,238, the 7,000, 200, 20, 10, 7 and 1 scales are marked, and the first scale along the midline to indicate a male (Fig. 1b). This system allows for a total of 15,554 uniquely marked individuals.


Ad hoc method


Hole drilling Cattle ear tags attached to scales


Hole drilling Tattoo drilling Scale painting Hole drilling


Number of programmes Pangolin origins


Cattle ear tags attached to scales 1


3 1


1 1 1 1


Trafficking/trade


Trafficking/trade & wild caught Trafficking/trade & wild caught


Wild caught Once an individual pangolin code has been assigned,


the relevant scales should be cleaned of debris andmarked with a wax pencil or marker. A hard barrier should be gently placed between that scale and any underlying scales or soft tissue for protection. Using a standard drill and a bit no greater than one third of the total width of the narrowest part of the scale, one hole is drilled per scale. Marks should be placed centrally in the exposed portion of the scale and drilled straight through the scale, leaving a circular hole. We recommend covering the pangolin’s eyes with a cloth or small towel to minimize stress. Should the pangolin curl into a defensive position, mark- ing should be completed whilst curled rather than forcing the animal to straighten. This might also allow for greater separation of and access to targeted scales. If the scale intended for marking is obscured by the tail whilst in the defensive position, the tail should be gently moved out of the way, if possible, or marking should be finished at a later time. Pangolin-tracking practitioners are already notching


pangolins of all sizes and scale thicknesses, including the two smallest species. The Pangolin Universal Notching System is designed to ensure this notching is standardized and applied to the region of the body with the largest scales. We are therefore confident that the code can be used effec- tively for all species without extensive pre-testing.


Discussion


Establishing a universal scale-marking system for pangolins will be helpful to facilitate the consistent gathering and shar- ing of conservation data globally. As there are substantial knowledge gaps regarding pangolin populations, imple- menting a uniform scale-marking system will help leverage current and future efforts for optimized data integration. Overall, our proposed system seeks to establish a standar- dized, accessible and broadly applicable notching protocol that could be implemented globally with minimal resources and training, using techniques that are already familiar to the pangolin-tracking community.


Oryx, 2025, 59(1), 54–60 © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605324000656


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