Assessing the efficacy of different survey techniques to determine status & threats to the Endangered Philippine pangolin in Palawan, Philippines
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Holloway University of London
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
Pangolins are the most heavily trafficked mammals in the illegal wildlife trade. All four Asian
pangolin species are listed as either Critically Endangered or Endangered on the IUCN Red
List due to past, present and predicted population declines which are driven by the growing
demand for pangolin parts and products. The Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) is
endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines and is arguably the least known of all the
pangolin species, with limited population data available. Population declines of >50% are
predicted but we have little knowledge on the local or international threats placed upon this
species, or even of the effectiveness of different research methods to gather baseline data to
inform its conservation. This project will therefore assess the ability of a series of different,
complementary methods to gather conservation-relevant data for the Philippine pangolin. It
will inform conservation biology by building an evidence-base from which to provide the first
robust assessment of the Philippine pangolin's conservation status, but with wider
application through the development of an integrated methodological toolkit suitable for
investigating the status of other poorly-known threatened species. It will also provide
conservation planners with new data on the anthropogenic threats this species faces from
the illegal wildlife trade in order to help prioritise conservation action.
pangolin species are listed as either Critically Endangered or Endangered on the IUCN Red
List due to past, present and predicted population declines which are driven by the growing
demand for pangolin parts and products. The Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) is
endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines and is arguably the least known of all the
pangolin species, with limited population data available. Population declines of >50% are
predicted but we have little knowledge on the local or international threats placed upon this
species, or even of the effectiveness of different research methods to gather baseline data to
inform its conservation. This project will therefore assess the ability of a series of different,
complementary methods to gather conservation-relevant data for the Philippine pangolin. It
will inform conservation biology by building an evidence-base from which to provide the first
robust assessment of the Philippine pangolin's conservation status, but with wider
application through the development of an integrated methodological toolkit suitable for
investigating the status of other poorly-known threatened species. It will also provide
conservation planners with new data on the anthropogenic threats this species faces from
the illegal wildlife trade in order to help prioritise conservation action.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Samuel Turvey (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Lucy Archer (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/W502947/1 | 01/04/2021 | 31/03/2022 | |||
| 1912132 | Studentship | NE/W502947/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/12/2021 | Lucy Archer |
| Description | The results of our first phase of research has led to the proposal for the first community-based pangolin protected area in Palawan, Philippines. Research results have been presented to local government bodies and are currently being integrated into policy by the ZSL Philippine pangolin team and Taytay municipal government officials. |
| Exploitation Route | We envisage that local government will declare the proposed area as an official community-based pangolin protected area that will be protected by law. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | Our findings have been presented to the Philippine pangolin working group and have been disseminated to local governments and stakeholders. Through working with local government officials and the Environment board in Taytay municipality, we have proposed the Philippine's first community based pangolin conservation area. This is in the process of being officially designated. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Proposal for new Pangolin conservation area |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | ZSL Philippines Safeguarding the Philippine pangolin project |
| Organisation | Zoological Society of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We have partnered with ZSL Philippines to lead on the research element of their new pangolin project. We have designed and led the research, leading a team of three field assistants to conduct a range-wide local ecological knowledge survey to identify where pangolins still exist across Palawan province. This has helped to prioritise areas for their new conservation project with the ultimate aim of establishing a new local pangolin conservation area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | ZSL Philippines has supported all field costs associated with the research - from vehicle use to accommodation and subsistence whilst conducting the surveys. They also cover the salaries of the field assistants. |
| Impact | The partnership is still ongoing so concrete outcomes are still in development. However, the first phase of the research is now complete and is being analysed. The results of this phase of the research will be combined with the outcomes of a stakeholder workshop which aims to engage stakeholders in the establishment of the new conservation area. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Biology week school talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Four schools groups of mixed ages attended presentations over skype which covered the Philippine pangolin and my PhD research, alongside careers in conservation. They had lots of questions on conservation and my pathway to doing a PhD. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | News Article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | News article on our recent publication, widely shared on social media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://news.mongabay.com/2021/01/its-not-too-late-yet-to-save-the-philippine-pangolin-study-finds/ |
| Description | Presentation to stakeholders |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Around 40 participants attended a two day stakeholder workshop for the Philippine pangolin (organised by ZSL Philippines) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. This brought together local government officials, wildlife rangers, protected area staff, funders, and representatives from NGOs working across Palawan province, Philippines. I presented the results of our local ecological knowledge (LEK) pangolin survey and we held stakeholder workshops to identify conservation strategies and assess the willingness of different stakeholder groups to engage in conservation activities for the Philippine pangolin. The results of this workshop, together with our LEK research, has helped ZSL Philippines decide where to set up a new local pangolin conservation area which is currently in the initial stages of being established.. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Public talk at the Kingston Biodiversity Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Around 30 members of the public attended a lecture on the Philippine pangolin, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and interest from 6th form students on how best to develop a career in conservation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | World Pangolin Day Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over 350 people attended a webinar that was broadcast live in the Philippines to celebrate world pangolin day. It brought together professionals working on pangolin conservation to discuss the current conservation work for the species. Participants were able to ask questions and learn more about the species. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | ZSL Wild Lunch Wednesdays |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interactive online event was livestreamed to the ZSL YouTube channel, which can be found here: zsl.org/IoZYouTube. Over 900 people have watched the event online so far. The event was focussed on my PhD research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.zsl.org/science/whats-on/wild-lunch-wednesdays |