Insectivorous animals in zoos including hedgehogs, shrews, and pangolins have specialist welfare needs related to diet, activity pattern, and environmental complexity.
Key Facts
Insectivores are often nocturnally active; light management is essential for natural behaviour
Live insect provision is behaviourally important and nutritionally essential for many species
Pangolins are among the most welfare-challenging zoo animals; most die within years of captivity
African pygmy hedgehogs in captivity commonly develop obesity, wobbly hedgehog syndrome, and dental disease
Environmental complexity including substrate for burrowing supports natural behaviour in most insectivores
Welfare Considerations
Insectivore welfare is frequently underestimated; many species have been kept in wholly inappropriate conditions based on their small size without regard for their specific ecological needs.
What You Can Do
Support zoos with documented specialist insectivore welfare programmes
Advocate against pangolin captivity given the extreme difficulty of meeting their welfare needs
Learn about the natural history of insectivores before acquiring any as pets