{"id":37645,"date":"2026-03-19T20:09:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=37645"},"modified":"2026-03-19T20:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:09:39","slug":"critically-endangered-pangolin-born-at-mandai-wildlife-reserve-the-first-in-10-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=37645","title":{"rendered":"Critically endangered pangolin born at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the first in 10 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 Mandai Wildlife Reserve welcomed a baby Sunda pangolin on March 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The pup joins three other Sunda pangolins at Mandai, including its father Radin, its mother Gumby and another female that is expected to give birth in the coming months. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In a social media post on March 19, Mandai said the pup was the first to be born there in 10 years. <\/p>\n<p>The Sunda pangolin (<i>Manis Javanica<\/i>) is considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Na<!-- -->ture<!-- -->, which means it is at extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base instagram instagram-embed\" title=\"instagram embed\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DWBztlZDuCT\/embed\/captioned\/?omitscript=true\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;falseclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"eager\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mandai said: \u201cThis tiny pangopup is part of the Night Safari\u2019s conservation breeding programme for the species, with each birth deepening our understanding of the species, supporting ongoing research into pangolin behaviour, health and best\u2011practice care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In videos shared by Mandai, the pup can be seen riding on its mother\u2019s tail, a natural behaviour for <!-- -->infant<!-- --> pangolins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cAt nearly three weeks old, the pup is currently about the size of a large avocado and covered in soft, pale scales that will gradually harden with age,\u201d Mandai said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, deputy chief executive and chief life sciences officer at Mandai Wildlife Group, said: \u201cGumby has taken to motherhood naturally, caring attentively for her pup, which feeds regularly and stays close at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mandai added that zookeepers are monitoring the pangolins via CCTV to minimise disturbance to the animals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Visitors will be able to see the pangolin pup via a live-streaming camera at the Night Safari\u2019s Pangolin Trail while preparations are under way for it to make its public debut in <!-- -->April<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/7311e5ac2edacf6740ed208e031965bc9c4a89c7bb5c3355b4dbb746f2153cd7?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/7311e5ac2edacf6740ed208e031965bc9c4a89c7bb5c3355b4dbb746f2153cd7?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/7311e5ac2edacf6740ed208e031965bc9c4a89c7bb5c3355b4dbb746f2153cd7?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/7311e5ac2edacf6740ed208e031965bc9c4a89c7bb5c3355b4dbb746f2153cd7\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">The newborn pup hitching a ride on mum Gumby\u2019s tail shortly after its birth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mandai had teased about the new arrival for a few days. On <!-- -->March 12<!-- -->, it posted a photo of an ultrasound on <!-- -->social media<!-- -->, inviting followers to guess what was the \u201ctiny secret (that) is growing at Night Safari\u201d. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cCheck out that tail!\u201d it hinted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On <!-- -->March 17<!-- -->, it posted a close-up photo of a pangolin\u2019s scales, which many of its followers identified and greeted with delight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prior to the arrival of Gumby and Radin\u2019s baby, the Night Safari had successfully bred the Sunda pangolin for the first time in 2011. There were two more successful births after that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Gumby and Radin were paired in August 2025 as part of a conservation breeding programme for the species at the Night Safari, which aims to maintain genetic diversity and ensure the species\u2019 long-term survival. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Gumby\u2019s pregnancy, her first, was confirmed in October and was followed by months of monitoring and preparation, including adjustments to her diet and changes to her habitat to encourage nesting and reduce climbing risks, said Mandai.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/b4149a06ddb59467b384ec0b71d94e7fcdfc9e04b0649973d22cd5f810e3b5e4?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/b4149a06ddb59467b384ec0b71d94e7fcdfc9e04b0649973d22cd5f810e3b5e4?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/b4149a06ddb59467b384ec0b71d94e7fcdfc9e04b0649973d22cd5f810e3b5e4?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/b4149a06ddb59467b384ec0b71d94e7fcdfc9e04b0649973d22cd5f810e3b5e4\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Sunda pangolin Gumby undergoing a routine ultrasound.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">There are eight species of pangolins worldwide. In the last decade alone, an estimated one million pangolins were poached to feed the illegal appetite for the species\u2019 meat, skin and scales, according to the World Wide Fund for <!-- -->Nature.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In Singapore, the Sunda pangolin resides in forested areas such as the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Western Catchment and Pulau Ubin, and can occasionally wander into residential areas.<\/p>\n<p>The National Parks Board (NParks) estimates that only about 100 of them are left in the wild. The biggest threats to the species are vehicles and habitat loss from development.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Between 2021 and 2023, NParks received an average of about 20 reported cases of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/environment\/pangolin-sperm-bank-how-s-pore-is-giving-world-s-only-scaly-mammal-a-hand-in-its-fight-for-survival?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">pangolins killed on roads<\/span><\/a> annually, up from a yearly average of around four cases in the previous three years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On average, the animal hospital at Mandai Wildlife Reserve receives about 40 rescued pangolins a year from across Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">About 89 per cent of rescued pangolins that arrive alive are successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild, Mandai said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"default inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bbee15cddf92ec53d40fb420154b70e7995894675406f238a8ff057be25057c?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bbee15cddf92ec53d40fb420154b70e7995894675406f238a8ff057be25057c?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bbee15cddf92ec53d40fb420154b70e7995894675406f238a8ff057be25057c?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bbee15cddf92ec53d40fb420154b70e7995894675406f238a8ff057be25057c\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-default flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover default article-default mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Visitors to the Night Safari can spot dad Radin at the Pangolin Trail, while Gumby stays behind the scenes to care for her growing pup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Conservation efforts are guided by Singapore\u2019s National Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for the Sunda Pangolin, which adopts a One Plan Approach \u2013 a coordinated strategy that integrates actions both in the wild and in human care to strengthen the overall impact on the species\u2019 protection. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Key focus areas include rehabilitation of injured and displaced wild animals and conservation breeding programmes <!-- -->outside the animals\u2019 natural habitat. <!-- -->This involves integrating rescued pangolins like Gumb<!-- -->y into<!-- --> the managed population to support conservation breeding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The <!-- -->pangolin gives<!-- --> birth to one or two offspring a year. Infants, which are born fully covered in scales, depend on their mothers for around three to six months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The birth of the Sunda pangolin follows that of <!-- -->two capybara pups<!-- --> and three Sri Lankan leopard cubs at Mandai Wildlife Reserve in January. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/one-of-two-capybaras-born-in-mandai-wildlife-reserve-has-died?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">The death of one of the capybara pups<\/span><\/a> was announced by Mandai on March 19.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/baby-bonanza-about-1000-animals-born-across-spores-wildlife-parks-in-2025?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">about 1,000 babies across more than 150 species<\/span><\/a> were born in Singapore\u2019s five wildlife parks under Mandai Wildlife Reserve. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Critically endangered pangolin born at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the first in 10 years\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ehZbNXAnOXU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/critically-endangered-pangolin-born-at-mandai-wildlife-reserve-the-first-in-10-years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 Mandai Wildlife Reserve welcomed a baby Sunda pangolin on March 1. The pup joins three other Sunda pangolins at Mandai, including its father&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}