Prague Zoo Celebrates the Birth of a 'Critically Endangered' Chinese Pangolin

The Prague Zoo has a lot to celebrate after welcoming another "critically endangered" Chinese Pangolin, their second in two years.

On July 11, 2024, the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic announced the birth of another Chinese Pangolin, the second in less than two years, and it's a big deal for the species. Take a look!

According to Associated Press Reporters, the newborn Chinese Pangolin, born on July 1, is "defying the odds and doing well."

Related: Critically-Endangered Lowland Gorilla Born at the Prague Zoo

The new baby, a female, is only the second Chinese Pangolin born in captivity in Europe, following her older sister, Cone, who was born in February last year.

"She weighed just 4.97oz (141g) but is putting on about 0.3oz (10g) a day and could reach 8.8oz (250g) this week," the Associated Press reports. "Adults can reach up to 15lb (6.8kg)."

In 2022, the Prague Zoo received Run Hou Tang, a female, and Guo Bao, a male, from Taipei Zoo, with the goal of keeping them in good health to one day go on to have babies.

“We certainly hoped that we’ll have a baby born one day in the future but absolutely nobody expected that we’ll have two in a year-and-a-half,” Prague Zoo director Miroslav Bobek said.

The species can be especially challenging to breed in captivity since they need their enclosure to be a very particular temperature and humidity, plus they need a special diet that includes "drone larvae," AP News explains.

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According to AP News, Prague is only the second zoo in Europe to keep the species in hopes of helping their numbers grow.

"The Chinese pangolin is native to southern China and Southeast Asia," according to the news station. "It is one of the four pangolin species in Asia, with the others found in Africa. They are hunted heavily for their scales and meat."

Chinese Pangolin Are Considered 'Critically Endangered'

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) and its Red List of Threatened Species, there are eight different species of Pangolin, including the Chinese Pangolin. All are considered "critically endangered," "endangered," or "vulnerable," and their populations continue to decline.

The Chinese Pangolin are "hunted heavily for their scales and meat," AP News explains, which has contributed to the species dwindling numbers.

The IUCN notes that despite the decline of nearly 80% of the species within three generations, "there is currently weak evidence that demand reduction efforts in key consumer countries for Asian pangolin products and derivatives are effective, which theoretically could lead to a reduction in harvest."