Keeping and breeding the rescued Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) in captivity

Abstract

The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822) is a Critically Endangered species. Given that this species lacks effective policies for in situ conservation and prevention of poaching in the wild, ex situ conservation and a captive breeding program are urgently needed to save this species from extinction. However, techniques for the maintenance and captive breeding of pangolins have not been well developed. In June 2010, we established the Pangolin Research Base for Artificial Rescue and Conservation Breeding of South China Normal University (PRB-SCNU). To date, a total of 34 Sunda pangolin cubs have been born at PRB-SCNU, 26 of which were captive bred, indicating great progress in keeping and breeding the Sunda pangolin. The techniques for maintenance-including housing, transitioning to an artificial diet, husbandry, and captive breeding-are described in this paper. The purpose of this manuscript is to share our successful experiences and techniques in the maintenance, management, and captive breeding of Sunda pangolins, and to provide guidance and a reference for the captive care and management of Sunda pangolins and other pangolin species.

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

“…However, there was no obvious estrus behavior found in this study. In addition, 26 Sunda pangolins have been bred in captivity (Zhang et al, ), no obvious estrus behavior has been observed among female pangolins at PRB‐SCNU. We suggest two possibilities: either there are some minimal differences between estrus and non‐estrus behavior and further quantitative analysis is needed to distinguish, or the artificial habitat and lack of environmental enrichment may limit the expression of estrus behavior in captive Sunda pangolins.…”

“…The Sunda pangolin ( Manis javanica ) is one of eight extant pangolin species (Gaubert & Antunes, ). It is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Thailand, Indonesia, and China (Challender et al, ; Zhang et al, ). An increase in the trade of pangolin meat, scales, and live individuals has led to the capture of an estimated one million pangolins over the past decade; the pangolin has become one of the most frequently illegally traded mammals in the world (IUCN, ).…”

“…In 2017, all eight pangolin species were included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, ), prohibiting all international commercial trade in pangolins and related products. It is widely recognized that no known measure is effective in protecting wild pangolins, and ex situ protection is urgently needed to prevent their extinction (Mohapatra & Panda, ; Zhang et al, ). When the captive population reaches a certain number, planned release may aid in the recovery of wild populations (Challender, ).…”

“…An incomplete description of Sunda pangolins' copulatory behavior has also been published (Yu, Peng, Liao, Jiang, & Ma, 2016). However, based on the Sunda pangolin breeding case reported by Yu et al (2016) and the gestation length of the species (Zhang et al, , 2017, it was speculated that the female Sunda pangolin reported by Yu et al (2016) was likely to have been already pregnant when observed mating in captivity, so the behavior may have differed from the normal mating behavior of this species.…”

The Comparison of Semen Collection in Electroejaculation, Rectal Massage and Combination of Both Methods in the Critically Endangered Malayan Pangolin, Manis javanica

“…The reproductive behavior [12] and the success of captive breeding in the Malayan pangolin have been reported [13]. The reproductive biology in male Malayan pangolins has also been explored recently [14,15].…”