(IN) Breeding Pangolins in Orissa

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Successful breeding of pangolin in Orissa

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KalingaTimes Correspondent

Bhubaneswar , Nov 17: In a major breakthrough, authorities of Nandankanan

Zoological Park here have been successful in captive breeding of Indian

pangolin, an endangered species that is included in the Schedule I of the

Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

 

A pangolin was born in a specially designed enclosure in the zoo on November

7, and both the mother and the baby are in a healthy condition, according to

Park Director Ajit Patnaik.

 

 

 

Pangolin is a very interesting scaled small mammal. Hunting and habitat

destruction have made these scaled mammals one of the most vulnerable

groups.

 

Available information suggests that Indian pangolin populations are

increasingly under threat throughout their range due to domestic and

international demand for live pangolins, their skins, scales and meat.

 

Pangolin scales are extracted after killing and skinning the animal. The

biology of Indian pangolin, with particularly low reproductive rates and a

large distribution, make them more vulnerable.

 

Conservation breeding of the endangered species in captivity with least

human imprinting and release in nature to improve their status in the wild

has been a priority in zoo management, according to Patnaik.

 

To meet this objective Nandankanan zoo initiated a conservation breeding

programme of Indian pangolin through enclosure and food enrichment.

 

Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is considered as a proud possession of

any zoo as it is a tough job to maintain this small mammal in captivity.

 

The rearing and maintaining pangolin in captivity is a challenging task,

mainly due to their specialised diet. Many zoos have not succeeded in

keeping this animal alive for any length of time, owing chiefly to the

difficulty of procuring their natural diet.

 

Though pangolin seldom breeds in captivity, Nandankanan has earned the

distinction of breeding of the species in a specially designed enclosure.

 

The special enclosure of the dimension of 3mx4m with a height of 3.5m was

constructed in an off exhibit area. The basal portion of the enclosure was

filled with one meter deep red laterite soil mixed with small stones over

which a 2mx2m mound was provided to stimulate the burrowing behavior of the

animal.

 

A 6cm thick reinforced concrete base with 5cmx5cm chain link mesh netting

was provided at the bottom of the soil layer to prevent escape. On all four

sides, 15cm thick strong laterite stone lining was provided above the

concrete base up to a height of 1 metre.

 

Few stones were mixed with the earth while building the earthen mound to

stimulate the animal to make a zigzag burrow. To facilitate proper

ventilation, chain link mesh netting was provided on all four sides above

the level of laterite lining, according to Patnaik.

 

An artificial tree trunk with branch was fixed at one end of the enclosure

to stimulate climbing habit. To keep the enclosure cool and to reduce the

light intensity, creepers were allowed to grow on the top of the roof of the

enclosure. A 0.5m diameter and 1.5m tunnel was provided at the base of the

2m high mound for the animal to take shelter during day time.

 

Manis crassicaudata are nocturnal and spend most of the day in their

burrows. It lives alone most of the time, with the exception of the mating

season. Keeping this in view the male partner is immediately separated from

the female once a confirmed mating or digging of burrows is observed inside

the enclosure.

 

The response of the pregnant female released in to the new enclosure of the

zoo was quite encouraging. The animal after a week of release started

digging a burrow at the rear end of the opening of the tunnel. It was also

seen climbing the artificial tree provided inside the enclosure. It was

expected that she would make use of the burrow for delivery of the baby. It

clicked and the pangolin gave birth to a baby inside the burrow.

 

" This is the first major breakthrough in successful designing of a breeding

enclosure of a small mammal that stimulated the breeding, " said Patnaik.

 

The zoo authorities have planned to construct five more breeding enclosures

based on the prototype developed by the zoo.