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International Journal Of Forest, Animal And Fisheries Research(IJFAF)

Mapping suitable habitat for giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea, Illiger 1815) in southern part of Campo Ma’an National Park, Southern Cameroon

Ngong K. Kaimo , Mvo Denis Chuo , Chefor Fotang , Woyu Hans Berinyuy , Theodore B. Mayaka

Article Info: Received: 31 Jan 2026; Received in revised form: 28 Feb 2026; Accepted: 05 Mar 2026; Available online: 10 Mar 2026

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DOI: 10.22161/ijfaf.10.1.3

Journal : International Journal Of Forest, Animal And Fisheries Research(IJFAF)

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Giant pangolin is critically endangered, with declining populations due to rampant hunting and habitat loss. Considering that no information is provided on giant pangolin suitable habitats in Campo Ma’an National Park, this study aimed therefore at identifying suitable and preferred habitats for giant pangolin, determining the contribution of environmental variables to its habitat suitability and assessing the probability of giant pangolin occurrence to environmental variables in the southern part of CMNP. We conducted line transects and reconnaissance (recce) surveys for giant pangolin occurrence signs (N= 144). The occurrence data were combined with geophysical; soil, habitat, and anthropogenic variables using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) species distribution model to map and predict the suitable habitat of pangolins. We found that 71 % of the area represents suitable habitats for giant pangolin while 29% represents unsuitable habitats. Both geophysical and soil variables played a vital role in determining suitable giant pangolin habitat, with aspect and soil organic carbon being key predictors. The probability of giant pangolin occurrence increased sharply in primary forests and dropped drastically in gallery, secondary and swamp forests. In contrast, the probability of finding giant pangolin indices decreased as Euclidian distance from the park interior to the nearest roads and villages increased. Conservation efforts should prioritise protecting and restoring primary forests with low soil pH, high silt content and low organic soil carbon as they provide essential habitats for giant pangolin. Furthermore, habitat destruction for roads and deforestation for the expansion of settlement should be mitigated.

Human impact, habitat preference, habitat requirements, Maximum entropy modeling, giant pangolin.

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