Conservation ecology of Giant Pangolins in Uganda

Overexploitation and habitat loss have placed pangolins amongst the most threatened mammals, but accurate assessments of their status are limited by a lack of suitable monitoring methods. The rarity of the Endangered giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), along with its elusive, nocturnal, burrowing behaviour, make it challenging to survey. Consequently, little is known about their spatial and behavioural ecology, which is essential for effective conservation and to prioritise efforts. This thesis uses data from Chester Zoo’s Giant Pangolin Project, based in Uganda, to fill critical knowledge gaps on giant pangolin ecology, distribution and status and develop effective monitoring methods to inform and strengthen long-term conservation strategies. It is the first study to assess the status of giant pangolins on a nationwide scale. The thesis demonstrates how camera trap data can be used to improve previous survey and monitoring methods. Using data from 153,621 camera trap days across 1,725 camera trap locations, I explore (1) species diversity and community composition in protected areas where giant pangolins occur, (2) adaptations to camera trap survey methods to improve giant pangolin detection probability, (3) giant pangolin burrow and scent marking behaviours, activity patterns and home ranges and (4) the factors affecting giant pangolin distribution across Uganda. Giant pangolins were detected within a range of protected areas with varying habitats and significantly different mammalian community compositions, demonstrating they have a broad ecological tolerance. Detection probability was highest when camera traps were placed on burrows. Giant pangolins in Uganda favour areas within protected areas and farthest from their boundaries, elevations below 1,500 m asl, and areas with higher tree cover. They are almost exclusively limited to protected areas, within which mean overall occupancy was considerably higher. The study revealed burrows to be a key feature of the behavioural ecology of giant pangolins, important for rearing juveniles, social interaction and territoriality. Burrow selection showed a relationship with giant pangolins using the burrow the previous night but not with habitat variables or time of day, revealing use of the same burrow over consecutive nights was more frequent than previously thought. Home range estimates varied from 0.02 to 21.703 km2, with males having larger ranges, overlapping with several females, but no overlap between females. The findings suggest giant pangolins in Uganda are rare and live at low densities, but their distribution may be more widespread than previously thought, with a broad ecological tolerance that enables coexistence with diverse species in diverse habitats when anthropogenic threats are reduced. Strongholds for giant pangolins in Uganda were identified, guiding conservation strategies and priorities, while providing a foundation for future behavioural research. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the value of optimising camera trap surveys to investigate giant pangolin spatial ecology and behaviour, as well as demonstrating the value of maximising camera trap datasets beyond their original purpose.

Citation

Matthews, N. E. (2025). Conservation ecology of Giant Pangolins in Uganda [Unpublished doctoral thesis]. University of Chester.

Publisher

University of Chester

URI

https://chesterrep.openrepository.com/handle/10034/630092

Type

Thesis or dissertation