760 Conservation news


posed priority conservation strategies surrounding: (1)spe- cies and research, (2) habitat and landscape, (3)community engagement and (4) law enforcement and policy develop- ment. On the second day, working groups prioritized and outlined activities needed to achieve each strategy, including the delineation of timeframes, responsible organizations, out- puts, and methods to monitor success. Subsequently, an up- dated action plan was published in March 2020 (Carstens et al., 2020, Cape Parrot and Mistbelt Forest Conservation Action Plan, cpsg.org/sites/cbsg.org/files/documents/Cape% 20Parrot%20and%20Mistbelt%20Forest%20Action%20Plan %20202003.pdf), defining the vision, scope, goals and targets to conserve the Cape parrot, and identifying 90 actions needed to achieve this. In recognition of the central role of habitat protection, the plan focuses jointly on the conserva- tion of the species and its associated forests, including the ambitious target of doubling the area of Southern Mistbelt forest under formal protection in 10 years. With the updated action plan published, and an Action


Group formed, stakeholders are working collaboratively towards the vision of a thriving population of Cape parrots acting as a flagship species for the protection and recovery of indigenous forests in South Africa, for the shared benefit of people and nature.


JESSICA LEAVER ( orcid.org/0000-0003-1431-7298), KATE CARSTENS,KIRSTENWIMBERGER and CLARE PADFIELD ( orcid.org/0000-0002-8729-4296) Wild Bird Trust, Hogsback, South Africa E-mail jess@wildbirdtrust.com


ROWAN MARTIN World Parrot Trust, Hayle, UK


COLLEEN DOWNS ( orcid.org/0000-0001-8334-1510) and PRESHNEE SINGH University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa


HARRIET DAVIES-MOSTERT IUCN Species Survival Commission Conservation Planning Specialist Group, and Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa


KERRYN MORRISON IUCN Species Survival Commission Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa, and International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, USA


ANNA YOUNG Otterbein University,Westerville, USA


MELISSA HOWES-WHITECROSS BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa


SHAUNWILKINSON Montecasino Bird Gardens, Johannesburg, South Africa


Last chance to prevent the extinction of the Chinese pangolin


The Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla occurs from Nepal eastwards and across southern China. It is believed to be one of the most heavily poached and trafficked mammals in Asia (Challender, 2011, Traffic Bulletin, 23, 92–93). The species is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with a decline of more than 80% suspected over three generations because of hunting and poaching for local and international use, with extirpation of the species in some areas (Challender et al., 2019, dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK. 2019-3.RLTS.T12764A168392151.en). Public and government awareness of the need to pro-


tect the Chinese pangolin is improving, and the species has recently been receiving increased attention in both traditional and online media. In June 2020 the Chinese government upgraded all pangolins to the first-class level of protection for species in China, and removed them from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Six national parks have been established since 2014 to protect biodiver- sity cover 34,585 km2 of the pangolin’s distribution range in China (China Green Times, 2019, forestry.gov.cn/main/ 72/20191018/100213014982208.html). The Pangolin Conservation and Research Centre of the


National Forestry and Grassland Administration was estab- lished in July 2020 by the Chinese government. It is responsi- ble for rescuing injured or seized live pangolins, conservation biology research, and developing new breeding techniques for ex situ conservation and restoration of the species to the wild. In this context, staff of the Centre rescued a Chinese pangolin and released it into the wild in July (China Global Television Network, 2020, news.cgtn.com/news/2020-07-08/ Rescued-Chinese-pangolin-released-back-into-wild- RVSeoz3etG/index.html). Additional measures are required for the protection of all


pangolin species in China, including environmental educa- tion, anti-poaching mechanisms, and a conservation action plan for the Chinese pangolin. Any action plan for the spe- cies will need to include improved habitat connectivity, re- forestation (it is a forest specialist), and study of its biology and ecology, which are poorly known.


YAN HUA ( orcid.org/0000-0001-8316-3937) and SHICHAOWEI ( orcid.org/0000-0001-9151-1356) Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, China


HENG BAO College of Wildlife and Natural Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China


Oryx, 2020, 54(6), 759–762 © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International. doi:10.1017/S0030605320000885


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