Taipei Zoo

Good news all around for Taipei Zoo recently! In Prague Zoo, a pangolin grandchild named Šiška, under the care of its mother Runhoutang and the keepers, is growing up healthy, successfully weaned, and transitioning to solid food. Now, Šiška is ready to embrace a new independent life! Additionally, a pangolin named Meiguo raised in Taipei Zoo successfully gave birth to a pangopup on June 11, 2023. The male pangopup is plump and energetic, and the keepers named it Guopi.

Runhoutang and her mate Guobao, homophonous for "national treasure," welcomed a pangopup named Šiška on February 2, 2023, marking the first pangopup born in Europe. The pangolin family in Taipei Zoo also welcomed a pangopup named Guopi, born by Meiguo, in the evening of June 11, 2023. Guopi, a male pangopup, is plump and full of energy. Based on his energetic and naughty nature, keepers named him "Guopi(," as "pi" in Mandarin refers to being mischievous). He is the brother of Guobao, who currently resides in Prague.

From the end of May in 2023, keepers started preparing for the arrival of pangolin newborns. Since it is clueless to tell if the pangolin is pregnant from its behavior or appearance, regular blood tests provide insight into variations in hormone patterns that help diagnose a pangolin’s pregnancy. When hormones exceed a certain level, an ultrasound examination will be employed to check the pup’s development. After years of research, the Pangolin research team in Taipei Zoo can confirm that the gestation period of a pangolin ranges from six to seven months. What’s more, the pup’s due date can be accurately calculated based on the data on fetal growth. Our accumulated experience in pangolin breeding not only provides leading technology but also contributes to the breakthrough in pangolin conservation efforts. As a main collaborating organization, we are committed to rescue, breeding, conservation, and restoration of pangolins.