A First for GCF in Nepal: World Pangolin Day 2026

For the first time, World Pangolin Day 2026 was led on the ground in Nepal’s Tanahun District, bringing communities, students, forest officials, and local leaders together to learn about one of the world’s most unique and threatened animals. This milestone initiative was led by Aabhash Kaphle, an undergraduate student at the Institute of Forestry at Tribhuvan University, working alongside Global Conservation Force to deliver hands-on conservation education where it matters most.

The program focused on three core areas: community-based awareness, school outreach, and the distribution of visual information materials designed to ensure long-term conservation messaging. Government entities, local leaders, community forest user groups, and residents came together to learn about pangolin ecology, the threats they face—including illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss—and practical conservation measures that can be applied locally. School-based awareness sessions introduced students to pangolins and their importance in maintaining ecological balance, preparing young participants to become future conservation advocates. Posters, visual aids, and a permanent pangolin information board were installed to ensure conservation messages remained visible and accessible to the wider community long after the program concluded.

The initiative began on February 20 with coordination visits to the Division Forest Office in Tanahun and the Bhanu Sub-Division Forest Office. These visits served to inform authorities about the program, obtain necessary permissions, and collect available information about pangolin presence in the region. During discussions with the Bhanu Sub-Division Forest Office, officials shared a significant historical record of a pangolin found dead in the Nala area of Bandipur Rural Municipality in 2011. This information highlighted the importance of continued awareness, monitoring, and protection efforts in the region.

Community-based awareness activities followed on February 21 at the Sano Deurali Community Forest User Group. Forty participants attended the formal session, while approximately 80 additional individuals were reached through informal interactions and community discussions. Presentations covered pangolin behavior, habitat requirements, their ecological role in controlling insect populations, and the threats posed by illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss. Community members actively engaged in dialogue, sharing local knowledge that indicated pangolin presence in the Chimkeshwori forest area of Aapukhaireni Rural Municipality. Local traditions also surfaced during discussions, including references to pangolins as “ghosts,” a nickname derived from their defensive behavior of curling into a ball and rolling downhill when threatened. Misconceptions—such as beliefs that pangolins damage crops—were addressed and clarified during these sessions.

School-based outreach activities took place on February 22 and 23 at two schools in Bhanu Municipality. The first session was held at Shree Manakamana Samudayik Bidhya Mandir, where approximately 40 Grade 7 students participated in presentations, poster-based learning, interactive discussions, and essay-writing activities. A notable finding from this session was that none of the students had prior knowledge of pangolins, despite teachers being familiar with the species. This gap highlighted the importance of expanding wildlife education among younger generations.

The second school outreach took place at Shree Narayeni Basic School, where approximately 60 students from Grades 5 through 8 participated in awareness presentations, art competitions, essay writing, and open discussions about wildlife conservation. Many students illustrated pangolins and their habitats during the art competition, demonstrating creativity and curiosity while reinforcing their understanding of wildlife protection. Similar to the first school, students initially showed little awareness of pangolins, further emphasizing the need for continued education efforts.

On February 25, following the completion of the school outreach programs, a permanent pangolin information board was installed within the community. This long-term educational display provides information about pangolin species found in Nepal, their ecological importance, their legal protection status, and conservation messages encouraging community involvement in wildlife protection. The installation of this board ensures that conservation messaging remains visible and accessible to community members well beyond the duration of the awareness campaign.

Due to the national election period, the planned student award ceremony was delayed. On March 10, once schools reopened, gift hampers were distributed to three students from each school who demonstrated strong participation and understanding during the program activities. The best-performing students were also awarded “Save the Pangolin” T-shirts featuring the Global Conservation Force logo, recognizing their engagement and encouraging continued interest in conservation.

Overall, the World Pangolin Day 2026 initiative reached approximately 100–120 community members and introduced around 100 students to pangolins and their role in the ecosystem. Beyond raising awareness, the program uncovered valuable local knowledge, including previously undocumented sightings and historical records suggesting pangolin presence in nearby forest areas. These insights provide an important starting point for future conservation research and monitoring in Tanahun District.

This first-of-its-kind outreach effort represents more than a single event—it marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to pangolin conservation in Nepal. By combining community engagement, youth education, and lasting informational resources, the initiative has laid a strong foundation for continued awareness, research, and protection of pangolins and their habitats. Conservation begins with awareness, grows through community participation, and endures through education, and this program demonstrated how locally led efforts can create meaningful and lasting conservation impact.