Pangolin microhabitats created by burrowing pangolins help plants and animals return to forests after wildfires.
When wildfires rip through forests, they leave behind a scorched, silent landscape. However, in southern China, the pangolin is one unlikely animal that is quietly helping nature recover. Often known for being the world’s most trafficked mammal, the Chinese pangolin is now earning attention for something else—its ability to create life-restoring spaces in burnt forests.
A new study published in Global Ecology and Conservation shows that pangolin burrows support the return of plants and animals after forest fires. These burrows form what scientists call pangolin microhabitats—tiny pockets of life that encourage regrowth in areas where almost everything has been wiped out.
This research is important. As climate change drives longer and hotter fire seasons around the world, these small creatures may hold a surprising key to helping forests recover.
Pangolins are insect-eating mammals with protective scales, and they’re more famous for being poached than for their contributions to nature. However, as “ecosystem engineers,” pangolins have an outsized impact on their environment. Their burrows do more than protect them from predators and cold—they also improve the land around them.
Pangolins dig deep into the earth using their strong front claws to create shelters. These holes bring up moist, nutrient-rich soil from underground, making growing seeds easier. The study focused on Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla), a critically endangered species in southern China, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
Researchers observed that each pangolin can dig up to 100 burrows a year, some as deep as 8 feet. These burrows stay at a steady temperature and moisture level, even when the outside environment becomes harsh, which is perfect for plants and small animals.
The research team didn’t set out to study pangolin microhabitats. However, they noticed something unexpected when they visited the forests in Heping and Chao’an in Guangdong province, where wildfires had burned in 2021 and 2022.
Pangolins were already digging burrows in the burnt areas, just one month after the fires.
That moment sparked the study. The researchers selected 54 burrow sites and compared them with 54 similar spots without burrows. They installed motion-sensitive cameras and recorded plant species at each location to determine whether burrows made any difference in these fire-damaged forests.
The results were clear: burrow sites had significantly more life.
- 58 plant species and nearly 3,000 individual plants were recorded near burrows
- Only 47 plant species and 2,165 individuals were found at the control sites.
- 35 animal species and 1,041 individuals were observed at burrow sites
- Only 23 animal species and 427 individuals atthe control sites
Frequent visitors included birds like spotted doves, Daurian redstarts, and Tristram’s buntings. Mammals such as leopard cats and various rodents were also spotted. On the plant side, black maidenhair fern and Asian raspberry were especially common.
Why the difference? Pangolins create favourable soil conditions by turning over topsoil and bringing up moisture. Their burrows offer cool, shaded spots where seeds can grow and animals can hide or rest.
Birds even use the loose soil for dust bathing, a common behaviour that helps them stay clean and parasite-free.
The idea of small animals helping restore large ecosystems isn’t new, but the role of pangolins is only now being studied in detail. Other burrowing animals, such as prairie dogs in North America or aardvarks in Africa, have shown similar benefits in shaping their environments.
These animals are called “ecosystem engineers” because they physically change their surroundings to support other life. Pangolin microhabitats could serve the same role in Asian forests, especially those hit hard by wildfires.
Given the increasing number of fires worldwide, this finding matters well beyond China. Wildfires burned nearly 10 million acres in the U.S. alone in 2023, and similar damage is happening in Australia, Europe, and parts of Africa. The ability of small animals to speed up recovery could be an important tool for land managers and conservationists.
Despite their importance, all eight species of pangolins are now threatened with extinction. Illegal hunting and habitat loss have driven their numbers down so low that most people will never see one in the wild. That’s why conservation efforts are crucial—not just for the animals but also for the ecosystems that depend on them.
China has taken steps to protect pangolins, including banning trade and setting up a pangolin conservation research center. One promising idea is rewilding—returning pangolins to areas where they once lived, especially in damaged forests. This could let them do what they do best: dig, shelter, and create pangolin microhabitats that give life a second chance.
If you want to help, there are several ways to get involved:
- Avoid buying products made from wildlife parts, especially in countries where illegal markets still operate
- Donate to conservation groups focused on pangolin rescue and rehabilitation, such as the Pangolin Crisis Fund.
- Learn more and spread awareness about the importance of pangolins in nature.
Small actions, multiplied across millions of people, can make a big difference.
Lead researcher Song Sun said their work shows that pangolins may act like “umbrella species”—animals that support entire ecosystems. Once they disappear, so do the many species that rely on them. As climate disasters increase, the value of animals like pangolins becomes clearer. Their burrows may be small, but the life they shelter is anything but. If we protect pangolins, we give forests a better chance to recover—and perhaps even thrive.
