Pangolins are notoriously difficult to maintain in captivity, yet captive programs are urgently needed as wild populations face extinction. Improving their welfare in zoos is a conservation imperative.
Pangolin welfare in captivity is among the most challenging in zoo animal management. These animals have extreme physiological and behavioral specializations that standard zoo care frameworks cannot easily accommodate. Their digestive systems are adapted to specific insect species and gut microbiomes that shift dramatically in captivity. Stress from environmental unfamiliarity and handling causes immune suppression and gastrointestinal problems that are the leading causes of captive mortality. The few institutions that have succeeded with pangolins share common features: minimal disturbance protocols, carefully matched dietary formulations, appropriate temperature and humidity management, and extensive keeper expertise. The conservation imperative — pangolins facing extinction from trafficking — creates pressure to develop captive capabilities that currently do not exist at the needed scale.