Pangolins are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity, with most individuals dying within months in zoos. Understanding why informs both welfare improvement and conservation strategy.
Pangolin welfare in captivity represents one of zoology's most challenging problems. Despite decades of attempts, most captive pangolins die rapidly from digestive failure, stress-related illness, or inability to adapt to artificial diets. Their solitary, nocturnal, fossorial lifestyle is almost impossible to replicate in zoo settings. Confiscated pangolins from the illegal trade — the primary source of captive individuals — arrive stressed, often injured, and carrying disease. Rehabilitation and release, where possible, is far preferable to permanent captivity. The few facilities that have succeeded in long-term captive maintenance use highly specialized protocols including live ant colony provisioning and stress-minimizing environments. Most zoos should not attempt to hold pangolins.