This Illinois Zoo Is Working To Save The Earth's Most Trafficked Mammal
'With the birth of two pangopups in 2022, one pangopup birth in 2023 and another last year, we now have 13 pangolins in our care,' says Mark Wanner, Brookfield Zoo Chicago Associate Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation and Chair of the North American Pangolin Consortium. Native to the forests of Central and West Africa, these white-bellied pangolins provide crucial insight into the biology and needs of the species, with each birth offering new information on the specific requirements of both pregnant and newborn pangolins. At the beginning of their lives, the pangopups are entirely under the care of their mother, with minimal interaction from zoo staff until weaning, at which point the animals are ready for a carefully-calculated mix of food items to prepare them for their next stage of life.
Though Wanner notes that replicating the natural diet of the white-bellied pangolin can be challenging, Director of Nutrition Dr. Jennifer Watts has crafted a varied blend of dried and ground invertebrates to ensure that the animals are properly nourished, with black soldier fly larva, silkworms and crickets incorporated into their diet alongside formic acid and additional mineral supplements. This insect-forward composition provides the resident pangolins with a mix that's similar to their natural diet of ants and termites—and as an added bonus for the mammals, every meal is paired with plenty of enrichment opportunities to keep them mentally stimulated.
A pangolin's plates might be its most eye-catching feature, but the animals also possess mind-bogglingly long tongues, with the organ connecting down at the pelvis rather than the base of the mouth. In the wild, pangolins use their tongues to consume more than 50 million insects per year—and at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, the white-bellied pangolin exhibit plays host to a multitude of different feeders, providing every resident with an opportunity to engage in natural feeding behavior at a variety of sites. Beyond this amenity, the pangolins are also provided with misting systems, unique sleeping areas and sound machines, each one playing a crucial role in fostering a safe and secure environment for the proliferation of this imperiled species.
'The 2024 birth signifies more than just another pangolin,' says Wanner. 'This birth also offers hope for developing a sustainable population under professional care. And as the most trafficked mammal in the world and facing steep declines in the wild, every successful birth is a reason to celebrate.' Though pangolins have struggled immensely over the years, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has made it their mission to ensure the future survival of the many species that call Africa and Asia home. With the arrival of each newborn pangopup, zoo staff uncover crucial information about the biology and behavior of these fascinating animals, ensuring that with enough time, humanity will see a world that's well-equipped to combat the plight of the pangolins.
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