Safe and sound: The pangopup that was rescued in Kudat being fed milk.
KOTA KINABALU: Villagers living on the forest fringes came to the rescue of two injured pangolin pups, or pangopups as they are sometimes called, that had strayed near to their homes in two Sabah districts earlier this month.
However, one of the pangopups died, while the other is still under the care of the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU).
According to the WRU, the first rescue took place in the interior Tambunan district on Sept 13 when a local, alerted by his dog’s barking, ventured outside to investigate.
The man then discovered a pangopup weighing 1.45kg with a minor injury on its tail.
“The WRU was immediately called for assistance. However, despite receiving intensive care, the pangopup’s condition worsened, possibly due to stress, and it eventually died on Sept 16.
“Its brief struggle serves as a reminder of how delicate and vulnerable these creatures are when separated from their natural environment,” the WRU said in a Facebook post yesterday.
The second rescue, the WRU said, was in the northern Kudat district where a pangopup, less than a month old and weighing just 0.6kg, was discovered near the rescuer’s home.
After being assessed and deemed to be in good health by a Sabah Wildlife Department veterinarian, WRU took over its care, feeding the fragile animal milk every three hours. The unit will care for the pangopup until it is ready for release.
These rescues highlighted the critical role of local communities and wildlife teams in protecting precious species, even when the outcome is uncertain, it said.
“We hope this story inspires more people to be compassionate towards Sabah’s wildlife. Every small action can make a difference,” the WRU added.
