2011-09-27 23:16
Elise Tempelhoff
Beeld South Africa

A baby pangolin in Limpopo has two critical months ahead

This baby pangolin (Manis temminckii) is approximately four months old and weights just on a kilogram.

Syd and his mother were caught in the Tzaneen area just over a month ago, stuffed in a bag and an alleged poacher tried to sell them in the town. According to Louise Joubert of SanWild that now cares for Syd day and night – he receives a special cat milk formula every four hours day and night. A local veterinarian informed the Tzaneen SPCA about the animals’ plight. Inspector Ellie Potgieter of the SPCA called Joubert about the two pangolins and delivered them to SanWild.

Joubert said that Syd’s mom initially took great care with her young, but it is suspected that her milk dried up as a result of stress as the young one started losing weight rapidly. Both animals were very dehydrated and stressed on arrival said Joubert. After their arrival both pangolins were taken out to forage naturally after dark in an attempt to release mom and baby to the wild simultaneously. Syd, who crawled up on his mom’s back unfortunately continued to fall off and the mother continued to walk on showing no interest in her baby. Joubert realised then that she would have to try and hand raise the baby if it had any chance of survival. On arrival Syd weighed only 300 grams. He now weighs just on a kilogram and is 39 centimetres long.

He is fed every four hours day and night by means of a small syringe and special teat. Joubert says that Syd will only allow her to feed him. “When he hears my voice, he will immediately uncurl”. Joubert is now trying to introduce Syd to his natural food; ants and termites. He is not yet showing any real interest; even if termites are placed in front of him. It is Joubert’s intention to return Syd to the wild. According to literature no pangolin has survived in captivity for longer than 6 months.