![]() Very little is known about their behavior and physiology and the Pangolin Consortium aims to study them and share its joint research results to assist in field conservation efforts. zoos, including the Gladys Porter Zoo, developed a plan to secure a small population of white-bellied tree pangolins under professional care. Faced with the sad realization that pangolins are on a trajectory for extinction, a consortium of U.S. Zoos are often the last line of defense for animals whose habitats have largely been destroyed or whose numbers have been greatly reduced due to overhunting. All eight pangolin species are protected under national and international laws, and two are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. African pangolins will soon reach the same critical levels. To-date, efforts to stop their widespread slaughter have failed, and the situation for pangolins has become dire in Asia. Their meat is consumed as bushmeat or sold into the exotic food market and their scales are ground up and used in traditional medicine. Over the past 10 years, more than a million have been illegally taken from the wild, earning them the dubious distinction of being the world’s most trafficked mammal. With wild populations of pangolins declining at alarming rates, all eight species of pangolins are facing extinction. This strategy does little to protect them from poachers, however. With cone-shaped heads and hard, overlapping scales, these gentle, armored insect eaters rely upon their ability to roll tightly into a ball when threatened as their primary means of defense. Pangolins, also known as “scaly anteaters,” are poorly understood mammals found in Asia and Africa. zoos, including the Gladys Porter Zoo, into taking action. Photo: Dev Leeīrownsville, Texas – The threat of the permanent loss of a rare and unique animal has spurred U.S. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time! Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact the Zoo office at (956) 546-7187 or membership office via email at or call (956) 546-7187 x343 or x344.White-bellied tree pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis). The activities and facilities that are unavailable include Small World and goat yard, stingray, and flamingo feeding opportunities, and keeper chats and shows. on weekdays and 5:30 pm on weekends, with the exception of the bathrooms. Indoor facilities will be open with a 100% building occupancy and close at 5:00 p.m. In addition, during this second phase of reopening, the public will be able to access most areas of the Zoo.
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