Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals and extremely difficult to maintain in captivity. Zoo programs face unique challenges but play an important role in conservation research.
Pangolin welfare in captivity is among the most challenging for any mammal species due to their highly specialized diet, extreme stress sensitivity, and poor historical captive survival. Successful programs have invested enormously in sourcing appropriate ant species, minimizing handling stress, and providing appropriate thermal and environmental conditions. Mortality rates remain high compared to other zoo mammals. Whether captive breeding programs can contribute meaningfully to conservation depends on overcoming these welfare challenges. In the interim, anti-trafficking enforcement and habitat protection provide more direct conservation benefit while welfare in captivity improves through continued research and refinement.