● Pangolin is only scaly mammal on the planet. Hence statement 1 is correct. ● According to CITES, it is also the most illegally traded vertebrate within its class (Mammalia). ● Of the eight species of pangolin worldwide, two are found in India. ● They are Chinese pangolin, mostly found in northeast India and Indian pangolin. ● Protection Status: ◦ Chinese pangolin has been listed as “critically endangered”. ◦ Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) has been listed as “endangered”. ● It is also a Schedule I category protected animal, under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and it cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law. Hence statement 3 is correct. ● The animal can be found in grasslands and secondary forests, and is well adapted to desert regions as it is believed to have a tolerance to dry areas, but prefers more barren hilly regions. Hence statement 2 cannot be correct. ● It prefers soft and semi-sandy soil conditions suitable for digging burrows.