Abstract
Pangolins are under severe threat from illegal trade and habitat loss.
Despite their conservation significance, these elusive creatures remain
poorly understood, particularly in the context of phylogeography and
genetic diversity. In this study DNA was isolated from two types of
pangolin scat (faeces) samples (whole scat and swabs) which had been
stored frozen for up to 3 years between the time of collection and our
analyses. A mitochondrial sequence for the cytochrome b gene (424
bp) region was reliably generated from both sample types, for scats
which appeared in ‘good’ or ‘poor’ condition at the time of collection.
Sanger sequencing revealed four new cytochrome b haplotypes for
pangolin, with variations in distinct sampling regions in Nepal (central
and east). Comparison to reference sequences for pangolin originating
from China, Taiwan and Thailand, indicated a distinct variant of Chinese
pangolin in Nepal (15-19 base pair difference). Genetic differentiation
of Chinese pangolin in Nepal has broader conservation significance for
this species. Methods described here are robust and could be applied to
broader genetic studies of pangolin populations across Nepal, allowing
for genetic mapping of pangolin variations to assist in identifying
populations of significance, evaluation of conservation interventions,
and forensic applications supporting the fight against illegal poaching.