By admin 
SINGAPORE: Two male Sunda pangolins were found locked in a fight at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve on an afternoon in July, with the smaller of the two suffering serious injuries that forced him to be put down.
The sighting was unusual because pangolins are nocturnal and are usually seen alone, except when in a mother-offspring pair or during courtship. Pangolins are critically endangered in Singapore.
The last recorded incident of aggression between Sunda pangolins was about twenty years ago and occurred sometime between November 2005 and February 2006.
The pangolins in the latest incident were found in a drain next to the service road of the Bukit Kalang Service Reservoir, located within the nature reserve, at around 1pm on July 17, Nature in Singapore reported.
The online magazine of NUS’ Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum publishes articles on Singapore’s flora and fauna.
The sighting was observed by National Parks Board (NParks) staff.
The larger pangolin – which was almost twice as heavy as the other – was seen curled up around the smaller specimen, clinging to it with its tail and clawing at its scales.
The smaller pangolin was in a defensive position, curled up into a ball. When threatened, these creatures often curl into a tight ball and use their tough, overlapping scales to protect themselves.
The larger pangolin was also seen trying to reach the other pangolin’s face with its front claws and raking its scales.
When rescuers tried to separate them, the larger pangolin stopped clawing but remained “tightly attached” to the other pangolin, clinging to it with its limbs and tail. When the tail of the larger pangolin was lifted, the smaller pangolin was released, unfolded and quickly moved away.
The pangolins were later placed in individual carriers and taken to the Mandai Wildlife Group, which operates Singapore’s four zoological parks, for assessment and treatment.
It was determined that both pangolins were males, with the larger pangolin weighing 8.7 kg and the other weighing 4.6 kg.
The smaller animal was placed under general anesthesia for examination. Veterinarians in Mandai found the animal had serious injuries, including extensive scratches, cuts, abrasions and bruises around the face, neck, legs and abdominal area.
Despite immediate treatment, the smaller pangolin’s condition deteriorated and it was eventually euthanized for veterinary and welfare reasons, NParks group conservation director Lim Liang Jim and Mandai Wildlife Group veterinarian Charlene Yeong told The Straits Times.
Meanwhile, the larger pangolin suffered only minor injuries to its front legs. He responded well to treatment and was released back into the wild by NParks.
NParks and Mandai said that while such interactions are rarely observed, aggression between male pangolins is natural.
“We are unable to definitively determine the reason behind the interaction, nor draw any conclusions about population density or habitat fragmentation based on this isolated incident,” they said.
They added that this record of aggression between the same species of Sunda pangolins could contribute to future occurrences or studies of their behavior.
Although the cause of the violence is unknown, the incident shows that pangolins are capable of inflicting serious injuries on their own species, the report said.
Sunda pangolins – native to Singapore – are critically endangered, mainly due to habitat loss and the illegal trade of their scales and meat.
The Sunda pangolin is usually shy and solitary in nature. It is nocturnal and relies heavily on its sense of smell to locate ants and termites – its main diet.
The previous incident of pangolin aggression, documented in the early 2000s, occurred on Pulau Tekong, one of the islands off the coast of Singapore used by the military.
In that case, a male Sunda pangolin, which was being tracked for research on Pulau Tekong, was seen facing a larger pangolin head-on. The smaller of the two was later chased away by the larger one.
According to the 2007 study, both showed aggressive behavior towards each other.
Mammal researcher Marcus Chua from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum said aggression between Sunda pangolins is not common.
Asked about possible reasons for the incident, he said it could be due to same-sex aggression towards each other.
“Pangolins are closely related to mammals of the order Carnivora, which also includes cats and otters, many species of which are territorial. It is possible that male pangolins are also territorial,” said Chua, who added that the smaller pangolin in the latest incident was likely a young adult.
Higher population densities could also lead to pangolins meeting more often, he said. He ruled out predation, since pangolins eat ants and termites, not their own kind.
“They could have met by chance, or the larger pangolin could have picked up the scent of the smaller pangolin and then engaged in a fight that could have been a territorial contest or defense,” Chua said.
“We simply don’t have enough knowledge to say anything about that.”
What should you do if you see a pangolin?
Observe it from a safe distance and do not approach it. Sightings can be recorded via the Singapore Pangolin Working Group website.
Do not touch the animal. Pangolins are wild animals with powerful claws that they use to defend themselves when they feel threatened. Getting too close to a pangolin mother carrying a baby on her back can also cause the baby to fall off, causing the mother to abandon it.
If the pangolin is in an urban area, call NParks’ Animal Response Center at 1800-476-1600 or Acres at 9783-7782.
Motorists near nature reserves must obey speed limits and drive slower. The slow-moving pangolins are often injured or killed by vehicles when they stray too far from forested areas onto roads.
The public can contribute to the long-term survival of the pangolin by not purchasing pangolin products such as meat, scales and medicines.
More information can be found on the Onze Wilde Buren website. – The Straits Times/ANN