To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective
Pangolins are one of the world’s most trafficked mammals. Since pangolins are highly adapted to ants and termites, they are important for controlling forest termite infestations. In addition to their ecological value, pangolins have economic and medicinal value. Currently, poaching and habitat destr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3137 |
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| author | Xin-Mei Wang Geert P. J. Janssens Chun-Gang Xie Bo-Wen Xie Zhi-Gang Xie Hai-Jian He Yan-Ni Wang Jia Xu |
| author_facet | Xin-Mei Wang Geert P. J. Janssens Chun-Gang Xie Bo-Wen Xie Zhi-Gang Xie Hai-Jian He Yan-Ni Wang Jia Xu |
| author_sort | Xin-Mei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pangolins are one of the world’s most trafficked mammals. Since pangolins are highly adapted to ants and termites, they are important for controlling forest termite infestations. In addition to their ecological value, pangolins have economic and medicinal value. Currently, poaching and habitat destruction have radically reduced the number of pangolins, and <i>Manis pentadactyla</i>, <i>Manis javanica</i>, and <i>Manis culionensis</i> are now considered the most threatened pangolin species. In addition to the control of hunting and illegal trade, ex situ breeding is also a useful conservation method. However, many technical obstacles still limit the success of ex situ pangolin breeding. The special feeding traits of pangolins require a diet that meets nutritional and ethological needs. Based on the existing literature and practical experience, this review aims to compare the natural diet and successful diet in the human care of pangolins, to outline the key factors of successful ex situ maintenance from a dietary perspective, and the strategies to improve their conservation success in animal care centers and in the wild. The type of food used in successful pangolin protection agencies is quite variable in nutritional composition. In the diet of pangolins in the wild, the nutrient profile of different species of termites and ants and even the same species of termites and ants but different types (queens, soldiers, etc.) also displays differences. The crude protein content of some ants is higher than that of other foods, such as eggs, milk, and common cat food. The mineral and vitamin concentrations of ants also exceed many common food items, such as oil, meat, and eggs. However, not much is known about the bioavailability of minerals from ants and termites. Based on comparisons between foods, it is clear that the main difference between diets in the wild and in human care of pangolins is that the latter contains fewer insects and vitamins, such as vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin B2, and more carbohydrates and non-protein substances than the former. Although many successful dietary formulae have been developed, the pangolin’s nutritional needs are still less well studied. A diet with the nutrient concentrations observed in the wild may add to successful ex situ conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:31:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f35a8be6057b453f9da4a95242dcbaaa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:31:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f35a8be6057b453f9da4a95242dcbaaa2023-11-24T07:28:51ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-11-011222313710.3390/ani12223137To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional PerspectiveXin-Mei Wang0Geert P. J. Janssens1Chun-Gang Xie2Bo-Wen Xie3Zhi-Gang Xie4Hai-Jian He5Yan-Ni Wang6Jia Xu7College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumWildlife Protection and Management Station, Jinhua Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, Jinhua 321052, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua 321000, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua 321000, ChinaPangolins are one of the world’s most trafficked mammals. Since pangolins are highly adapted to ants and termites, they are important for controlling forest termite infestations. In addition to their ecological value, pangolins have economic and medicinal value. Currently, poaching and habitat destruction have radically reduced the number of pangolins, and <i>Manis pentadactyla</i>, <i>Manis javanica</i>, and <i>Manis culionensis</i> are now considered the most threatened pangolin species. In addition to the control of hunting and illegal trade, ex situ breeding is also a useful conservation method. However, many technical obstacles still limit the success of ex situ pangolin breeding. The special feeding traits of pangolins require a diet that meets nutritional and ethological needs. Based on the existing literature and practical experience, this review aims to compare the natural diet and successful diet in the human care of pangolins, to outline the key factors of successful ex situ maintenance from a dietary perspective, and the strategies to improve their conservation success in animal care centers and in the wild. The type of food used in successful pangolin protection agencies is quite variable in nutritional composition. In the diet of pangolins in the wild, the nutrient profile of different species of termites and ants and even the same species of termites and ants but different types (queens, soldiers, etc.) also displays differences. The crude protein content of some ants is higher than that of other foods, such as eggs, milk, and common cat food. The mineral and vitamin concentrations of ants also exceed many common food items, such as oil, meat, and eggs. However, not much is known about the bioavailability of minerals from ants and termites. Based on comparisons between foods, it is clear that the main difference between diets in the wild and in human care of pangolins is that the latter contains fewer insects and vitamins, such as vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin B2, and more carbohydrates and non-protein substances than the former. Although many successful dietary formulae have been developed, the pangolin’s nutritional needs are still less well studied. A diet with the nutrient concentrations observed in the wild may add to successful ex situ conservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3137pangolinsnatural dietex situ feedingnutritive value |
| spellingShingle | Xin-Mei Wang Geert P. J. Janssens Chun-Gang Xie Bo-Wen Xie Zhi-Gang Xie Hai-Jian He Yan-Ni Wang Jia Xu To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective Animals pangolins natural diet ex situ feeding nutritive value |
| title | To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective |
| title_full | To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective |
| title_fullStr | To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective |
| title_short | To Save Pangolins: A Nutritional Perspective |
| title_sort | to save pangolins a nutritional perspective |
| topic | pangolins natural diet ex situ feeding nutritive value |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3137 |
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