title: Captive breeding of pangolins: current status, problems and future prospects.
abstract: Pangolins are unique placental mammals with eight species existing in the world, which have adapted to a highly specialized diet of ants and termites, and are of significance in the control of forest termite disaster. Besides their ecological value, pangolins are extremely important economic animals with the value as medicine and food. At present, illegal hunting and habitat destruction have drastically decreased the wild population of pangolins, pushing them to the edge of extinction. Captive breeding is an important way to protect these species, but because of pangolin's specialized behaviors and high dependence on natural ecosystem, there still exist many technical barriers to successful captive breeding programs. In this paper, based on the literatures and our practical experience, we reviewed the status and existing problems in captive breeding of pangolins, including four aspects, the naturalistic habitat, dietary husbandry, reproduction and disease control. Some recommendations are presented for effective captive breeding and protection of pangolins.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Entomological Institute (South China Institute of Endangered Animals), No. 105, Xin Gang Road West, Guangzhou 510260, China ; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou 510260, China ; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangzhou 510260, China.
authors.forename: Liushuai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Entomological Institute (South China Institute of Endangered Animals), No. 105, Xin Gang Road West, Guangzhou 510260, China ; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangzhou 510260, China ; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangzhou 510260, China.
authors.forename: Shiping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Wildlife Rescue Center, Guangzhou 510520, China.
authors.forename: Fumin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Entomological Institute (South China Institute of Endangered Animals), No. 105, Xin Gang Road West, Guangzhou 510260, China.
authors.forename: Weiye
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Entomological Institute (South China Institute of Endangered Animals), No. 105, Xin Gang Road West, Guangzhou 510260, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Entomological Institute (South China Institute of Endangered Animals), No. 105, Xin Gang Road West, Guangzhou 510260, China.
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Wildlife Rescue Center, Guangzhou 510520, China.
authors.forename: Fanghui
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hou
keywords: Pangolin; captive breeding; conservation; dietary husbandry; disease