Nutrition and behaviour of captive Sunda pangolins, Manis javanica.

Abstract

In 2005, the Night Safari (NS) started a captive management program of rescued pangolins, with the long-term goal of captive breeding for conservation purposes. Pangolins are myrmecophagous mammals with a highly specialised diet of ants and termites and it is therefore difficult to provide them with a sufficient natural diet in captive situations. Hence, NS has created a specialized artificial diet for these captive pangolins. Despite this, more research needs to be done to better understand this species and improve their captive management practices. This study compared nutrition levels between their natural and artificial diet, monitored their feed intake and faecal output, as well as behavioural observations of their activity pattern. It was determined that the natural diet has higher levels of crude fats and protein than the artificial diet. The amount of food consumed and absorbed varied between gender and age groups. The young females consumed and absorbed more food than the older male. Captive pangolins spent most of their time foraging during their short active period. The results obtained in this study will be able to assist NS in providing and optimizing the diet of the pangolins and hence, improving their captive management of the animal.