Behavioural sampling techniques and activity pattern of Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata (Mammalia: Manidae) in captivity

Abstract

Funding: This study is a part of the research project funded by Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.Competing Interest: Authors declare no competing interests.Author Details: R.K. Mohapatra is working as Junior Research Fellow; has registered for his PhD in Utkal University, Odisha with an objective to understand behavioural patterns, space utilization, reproductive biology, haematology, effect of environmental enrichment and identification of ecto-and endo-parasites of captive Indian pangolins which will be ultimately helpful in captive management and breeding of the species. Dr. S. Panda is currently working as Director, Nandankanan Biological Park, Odisha. He is the project investigator of the research project. He has co-authored 7 books and 30 research papers in the field of wildlife and biodiversity. His research interest includes wildlife conservation, in-situ and ex-situ management of wildlife and biodiversity studies.Author Contribution: Both authors conceived the study, participated in its design and coordination. RKM contributed in behavioural data collection, data analysis, review of literature and in drafting the manuscript. Both authors contributed to revision of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgements:The authors wish to extend their sincere thanks to the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi for their financial support in undertaking the research work in Pangolin Conservation Breeding Center at Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha, India. Abstract:The study presents data on six Indian Pangolins Manis crassicaudata observed in captivity at the Pangolin Conservation Breeding Centre, Nandankanan, Odisha, India over 1377 hours of video recordings for each pangolin between 1500hr and 0800hr on 81 consecutive observational days. Video recordings were made through digital systems assisted by infrared enabled CCTV cameras. The data highlights patterns relate to 12 different behaviour and enclosure utilization. Different interval periods for sampling of instantaneous behaviour from video recordings have been evaluated to develop optimal study methods for the future. The activity budgets of pangolins displayed natural patterns of nocturnal activity with a peak between 20:00-21:00 hr. When out of their burrow, they spent about 59% of the time walking in the enclosure, and 14% of the time feeding. The repeatability of the behaviours has a significant negative correlation with the mean time spent in that behaviour. Focal behavioural samples significantly correlated with instantaneous samples up to 15 minutes interval.The correlation values gradually decreased with the increase in sampling interval. The results indicate that results obtained from focal sampling and instantaneous sampling with relatively shorter intervals (≤5 minutes) are about equally reliable. The study suggests use of focal sampling, instead of instantaneous sampling to record behaviour relating to social interactions.

Reproductive behavior of the captive Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822)

“…The pangolin is a nocturnal animal that conceals its whereabouts, making it difficult to study. Recent research has addressed the behavioral patterns, time budget, and activity patterns of the Sunda pangolin (Challender, Thai, Jones, & May, 2012;Wang et al, 2015), Indian pangolins (Manis crassicaudata Gray, 1827; Mishra & Panda, 2010;Mohapatra & Panda, 2013, 2014a, 2014b, and Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla Linnaeus, 1758; Chen, His, Chen, & Chang, 2005;Heath, 1987). However, little is known regarding their reproductive behavior.…”

Rare observations of inter-specific interaction of sloth bear and leopard with Indian pangolin at Satpura Tiger Reserve, Central India

“…Indian pangolins feed primarily on ants and termites. 1,7 The sloth bear has specialized on insect prey, particularly termites and ants. [8][9][10] About 72.7% of the sloth bear diet include termites.…”

“…Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) distributed throughout peninsular India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. 1,2 Knowledge on ecology and inter-specific association of Indian pangolin is limited because of their nocturnal and secretive habit. The Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent-India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh-ranges from the base of the Himalayas to the southern tip of the Western Ghats including the island of Sri Lanka.…”

On the mating behaviour of captive Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)

“…Although several zoos have maintained this species, births in captivity have been reported by very few zoos: Calcutta zoo, (Acharjyo, 2000), Oklahoma zoo (Ogilvie & Bridgwater, 1967), Nandankanan Zoological Park, (Acharjyo & Misra, 1972, Acharjyo & Mohapatra, 1978. Although earlier studies have described nocturnal behaviour and activity pattern of Indian pangolins in captivity (Mishra & Panda, 2010;Mohapatra & Panda, 2013), observations on their mating behaviour are limited mainly because mating is seldom observed. This study reports on mating behaviour observed in captivity.…”

“…The study was conducted at the "Pangolin Conservation Breeding Centre" (PCBC) of Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha, India. The housing and husbandry practices for Indian pangolins at PCBC have been described elsewhere (Mohapatra & Panda, 2013;Mohapatra & Panda, 2014). At PCBC, Indian pangolins are housed in such a way that they have the opportunity to interact with individuals of the opposite sex in the adjacent enclosure by climbing up mounds, the surrounds of water pools, wooden logs, or the chain-link mesh.…”