Comparison of growth rates of hand-reared and mother-reared Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) pups at the Night Safari (Singapore).

Abstract

The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a critically endangered myrmecophagous mammal, found throughout Southeast Asia. A rescue centre receiving custom's seizures must be able to rehabilitate these animals. Unfortunately, gestating females tend to either abort or give birth during this period of stress, leaving rescue centres with new-born pups, perhaps needing hand-rearing. The Night Safari (Singapore) has been caring for M. javanica since 2005 through rescue operations; however, they officially became part of the animal collection in 2008. On two separate occasions, motherless pups have been brought to the rescue centre by officials, and had to be hand-reared, both fed a feline milk replacer. The aim of this study was to compare the growth rates of hand-reared versus mother-reared pangolin pups. The hand-reared pups had a significantly lower growth rate than mother-reared pups. The hand-reared pup's growth rate slowed significantly at around day 80. Feline milk was nonetheless successful but did not have a growth rate similar to mother-reared. Other myrmecophagous milks become energetically denser, and the protein to fat ratio decreases throughout lactation. This could be trialled in future hand-rearing cases to compare growth rates.