Lifespan 7 years in the wild
Quick facts
DietAnts and termites
HabitatPrimary and secondary forest
RangeSoutheast Asia including Singapore
The Sunda pangolins
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Finicky eaters
Due to their specialised diet of ants and termites, pangolins are notoriously difficult to care for. At first, our keepers tried to emulate the anteater diet – a porridge made from fruits, meat and mealworms.
As pangolins have no teeth, the tendons had to be removed from the meat before it was blended. Later, ground-up termite mounds were added. Most recently, the keepers have substituted the meat with ant eggs. Our pangolins are positively lapping this up.
Healthy poop, healthy pangolin
One of the first things our pangolin keepers look out for in the morning is the poop. Healthy pangolins produce poop that is blackish and tubular. 8 out of our 10 pangolins have the bizarre habit of pooping in their water dishes, so extra dishes are provided for them.
Panjang, who was named for his long tail (‘panjang’ means ‘long’ in Malay), is one of them. Unfortunately, he sometimes misses the dish target due to the length of his tail!
Surprise, surprise
This strange business might have to do with the fact that the pangolin is a confident swimmer. Not only does it swim well, it can scoot up a tree with surprising speed. Its prehensile tail works like a fifth limb.
The bottom tip of the tail is naked and helps it maintain its grip around branches and tree trunks. Which is why our keepers are ever-watchful when taking them out on walks. If they decide to scale a tree, it would be tough trying to get them to come down.
Pangolin Rehabilitation
Explore our dedicated conservation efforts for the Sunda Pangolin and discover how we protect and rehabilitate these critically endangered creatures to ensure their survival in the wild.
Berani’s Groundbreaking Surgery
Pangolin surgery is tricky due to their scaly exterior, but “Berani” was braver than most other pangolins! Witness his journey from undergoing the first-ever surgery of its kind to rehabilitation and recovery.
Sudi’s Road To Recovery
Found after a suspected dog attack, “Sudi” was brought to us with a tail wound for emergency treatment. Daily wound-cleaning and physiotherapy were all part of his in-patient stay, while wild ant nests supplemented his in-patient diet.
Stardust The Hand-raised Pangopup
Health checks, exploratory walks, practising climbing, and learning how to find ant nests are all in a day’s work for Stardust on her road to being released.
From Rehab To Release
Witness “Springle’s” epic recovery! From going through weight loss to eating and foraging with vigour, this baby pangolin was nursed back to health in preparation for its return to wilderness.
Together, we protect wildlife
Scaling up pangolin conservation
The Sunda pangolin is the most heavily trafficked mammal in the illegal wildlife trade, and one of the most threatened species on this planet. But in Singapore, its main threat is another kind of traffic: the kind on roads. Over the years, we have funded research into topics ranging from its diet and genetics to how it navigates the urban landscape.
Various tracking methods including GPS and the use of sniffer dogs were tested. The learnings culminated in the establishment of the Sunda Pangolin National Conservation Strategy and Action Plan in 2018. We chair the Singapore Pangolin Working Group (SPWG), which is tasked to implement the strategy.
The IUCN Status
CR
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Rescued!
Sham, Senior Veterinary Nurse, and Dr. Charlene Yeong, Conservation and Wildlife Health Manager, attending to a rescued pangolin after an operation to fix a broken right femur. The pangolin was later named Berani. He continues to recover well under our care.
The IUCN Status
CR
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
DD
Data Deficient
Unknown risk of extinction
LC
Least Concern
At relatively low risk of extinction
NT
Near Threatened
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
VU
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
EN
Endangered
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
CR
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
EW
Extinct in the Wild
Survives only in captivity
EX
Extinct
No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity
