Night Safari Welcomes First Sunda Pangolin Pup in a Decade, With Another on the Way

A rare and significant conservation milestone has been achieved at Night Safari, where a critically endangered Sunda pangolin pup has been born for the first time in ten years.

The pup arrived on 1 March 2026 to first-time parents Gumby and Radin, marking a breakthrough for a species known to be extremely challenging to breed under human care. Adding to the excitement, another female pangolin, Bawang, is currently pregnant and expected to give birth in the coming months.

A Fragile Yet Hopeful Start

In the weeks following the birth, both mother and pup have been reported to be in good health. Animal care teams maintained round-the-clock monitoring in the early days, with keepers even staying overnight to ensure the pair’s safety. To minimise disturbance, ongoing observation is conducted via CCTV.

Now nearly three weeks old, the pup is about the size of a large avocado and covered in soft, pale scales that will gradually harden over time. It has also been observed clinging to its mother’s tail, a natural behaviour for young pangolins.

Supporting a Species Under Threat

Despite this positive development, Sunda pangolins remain under severe threat in the wild. Widely regarded as the most heavily trafficked mammals globally, more than a million have been taken from their natural habitats over the past decade.

In Singapore, these nocturnal animals face additional risks as they move between fragmented forest patches, often crossing roads where they are vulnerable to vehicle collisions.

Careful Planning Behind the Scenes

Gumby and Radin were paired in August 2025 as part of a conservation breeding programme led by Mandai Wildlife Group. Her pregnancy was confirmed in October, prompting months of careful preparation by animal care and veterinary teams.

This included regular health checks, ultrasonography, dietary adjustments and habitat enhancements such as deeper sand and leaf litter to encourage nesting. Environmental modifications were also made to reduce climbing risks and ensure a safe space for the expectant mother. Similar care is now being extended to Bawang as she approaches her due date.

A Broader Conservation Effort

Native to Singapore and classified as critically endangered, the Sunda pangolin is a priority species under conservation efforts led by Mandai Wildlife Group and its conservation arm, Mandai Nature.

These efforts are guided by Singapore’s National Conservation and Action Plan for the species, which adopts a “One Plan Approach”, integrating conservation work both in the wild and under human care. This includes rehabilitation of rescued animals, breeding programmes, research, and public education.

At Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the animal hospital treats around 40 rescued pangolins each year. Impressively, about 89 per cent of those that arrive alive are successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Additional research, including post-mortem studies and biobanking of tissue samples, contributes to long-term conservation strategies.

Public Debut Coming Soon

Night Safari made history as the first zoo in the world to exhibit Sunda pangolins in 2009 and the first to successfully breed them in 2011. The newly born pup represents another step forward in safeguarding the species.

Preparations are now underway for the young pangolin’s public debut in April 2026. In the meantime, visitors can catch a live CCTV feed of Gumby and her pup at the Pangolin Trail, offering a rare glimpse into the early life of one of the world’s most elusive mammals.