LAKKI MARWAT: The wildlife department officials released a pangolin in the natural habitat near Kurrum River here the other day.

According to reports, a pangolin had entered the house of one Azeem Khan in Landiwah village at night by making a hole in the boundary wall. Early in the morning the inmates noticed the animaland called other villagers for help to kill it.

However, district councillor Abdul Haleem reached the place before the villagers could harm it. Mr Haleem informed the wildlife department about the rare animal after which a team, headed by DFO Bannu Khan Malook, reached the village and took the pangolin into its custody.

The animal was shifted to the wildlife park near Kurrum bridge and released in its natural habitat in the presence of local councillors and people. Mr Malook told this correspondent that pangolin was among the extinct species and under the law it had been protected.

“The mammal is endangered by illegal hunting and trade besides use of its body parts in traditional medicine and its illegal traffi cking to other countries,” he revealed.

He said that pangolins used their long claws to dig out ants and termites from mounds and logs and then eat them.