This project aims to use evidence-based conservation strategies (www.conservationevidence.com) to address threats to Chinese Pangolins in Khotang.

Our three objectives are:

1. Community-Based Monitoring: We will establish a robust community-based monitoring system by training over 20 locals in wildlife monitoring techniques. With the community’s approval, these trained individuals will form Community-Based Anti-Poaching Units. Their role will be to report pangolin sightings, engage local law enforcement agencies to combat hunting and trade, and actively raise conservation awareness.

2. Habitat Protection: Crucial pangolin habitats will be identified through camera trap surveys and occupancy modeling. We will strategically place signs in these areas to minimize disturbances, creating safer environments for these endangered creatures.

3. Awareness and Education: Our project will conduct community conservation training for a minimum of 100 individuals. We will launch extensive outreach and educational campaigns, distributing 500 posters and 100 booklets to disseminate pangolin conservation messages. Directly engaging with 400 students through 20 conservation camps will further reinforce our message.

Project updates:

1. School Awareness camps completed: We successfully conducted a pangolin awareness program in 14 schools across Khotang district. A total of 725 students participated in the program.

Media link: https://shilapatra.com/detail/145134

2. Eco-club workshop completed: The two-day Eco-club Workshop in Jalapa, Khotang, was successfully concluded on January 11-12, 2025, hopefully leaving a lasting impact on the young participants.

3. Wildlife monitoring training for 7 Community Forest User Groups completed:A one-day training program was conducted on January 13, 2025, for 26 members from7 different community forest user groups in Jalapa, Khotang.

Latest Project Updates:

4. Evidence of Presence: Following six months of intensive camera trapping (concluded in January 2026), our project has officially confirmed the continued presence of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin in the community forests of Khotang. 13 camera traps were deployed and monitored by trained local community members, successfully recording the pangolin along with 15 other mammalian species.

5. Strengthening Governance: To ensure the sustainability of the project, NCSC has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadi Municipality, Office of Ward No. 12, Jalapa. This partnership formalizes the collaboration between NCSC and local government to protect identified habitat corridors and paves the way for integrating pangolin conservation into local government planning.

6. Installation of Pangolin Conservation Information Boards: We have installed 3 information boards with pangolin conservation message in 3 strategic sites selected with CFUGs and their importance for pangolins.

7. Municipality-level pangolin conservation workshop: We held a municipality-level workshop at Jalapa on January 3, 2026, in the presence of approx. 80 locals including the Mayor, CFUGs representatives, journalists, police, FECOFUN representatives, cooperatives, other NGOs working in Khotang and community forest user group members. The workshop spread the word of pangolin conservation not only in Khotang but also made news in national medias.

Media coverage of the workshop:

Link 1: https://ekantipur.com/koshi-pradesh/2026/01/04/endangered-black-lizard-found-in-khotang-31-49.html

Link 2: https://www.halesikhabar.com/?p=39233

Link 3: https://namastekhotang.com/news/view?id=2442

Next Steps: We are now moving toward long-term planning with local community forest user groups of endangered wildlife in Jalapa, Khotang, focused on pangolins.

Read more at our website: https://ncsc.org.np/implementing-evidence-based-conservation-measures-to-protect-chinese-pangolin-in-khotang-eastern-nepal/