Conservation leaders expand efforts to protect pangolins in advance of World Pangolin Day
New AZA SAFE Pangolin program builds on Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s groundbreaking care and research as two rare pangolin pregnancies signal hope for the species’ future
Brookfield, IL—In advance of World Pangolin Day on Feb. 21, Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are advancing coordinated conservation efforts to protect pangolins through the launch of a new AZA SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction ® Pangolin program. The announcement comes as the Zoo monitors two rare white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) pregnancies, underscoring both the urgency and promise of global conservation efforts. SAFE Pangolin is designed to unify conservation partners and strengthen protections for all eight pangolin species—the most trafficked mammals in the world.
All eight species of pangolins are threatened with extinction. Pangolins face intense pressures from wildlife trafficking, habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, electric fencing and human-wildlife conflict. Millions of pangolins have been poached over the past decade alone, underscoring the urgency of coordinated, science-driven action to address threats across their native range in both Africa and Asia.
AZA SAFE Pangolin builds on years of scientific advancement and conservation efforts led by Brookfield Zoo Chicago, which dates back to the North American Pangolin Consortium’s creation in 2016. The program provides a structured framework to align research, animal care, field conservation partnerships and public engagement under a unified conservation strategy. This collaborative effort is led by Mark Wanner, associate vice president of animal care and conservation at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, and guided by a steering committee that includes represents from Gladys Porter Zoo, Honolulu Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Turtle Back Zoo and Hertfordshire Zoo (UK).
“SAFE programs represent the highest level of coordinated conservation action, harnessing the collective expertise of AZA-accredited institutions,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “SAFE Pangolin marks our 56th SAFE program and reflects the strength of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s leadership in pangolin care and conservation. Their pioneering work and sustained commitment to the species provides a powerful foundation for expanding collaborative protections for pangolins in the wild.”
With World Pangolin Day quickly approaching, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is anticipating a new conservation milestone while monitoring two pregnant white-bellied pangolins under its care. Expecting mother Rosy’s anticipated pangopup will mark the next generation of pangolins—a significant step in sustaining a genetically diverse population. The second pregnancy offers insight on reproductive longevity and maternal health, as expecting mother Virgina is 11 years old. The Zoo has successfully welcomed nine births to date in the last decade. Each pangopup birth is significant and provides rare insights into fetal development and neonatal care, offering new learning to help inform conservation efforts, rehabilitation protocols, rescue response and species management in range countries.
“Every insight matters for a species like pangolins, where so much of their biology remains understudied,” said Wanner, who also serves as chair of the North American Pangolin Consortium. “Brookfield Zoo Chicago is filling critical knowledge gaps and skill development for pangolin care that are essential for their survival, whether in-situ at rehabilitation centers in their native range or under professional care. SAFE Pangolin marks a pivotal moment for global collaboration to stave off, or ideally, avoid extinction.”
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a global leader in the care and study of white-bellied pangolins, advancing knowledge in natural history, behavioral monitoring, nutrition, reproductive physiology, veterinary medicine and husbandry for a species historically considered difficult to sustain in professional care. Through peer-reviewed research, specialized diet development and various innovations—including the modern pangolin diet and the first scientifically evaluated injectable anesthesia protocol for pangolins—the Zoo has helped challenge long-standing assumptions about the species’ survivability and significantly expand knowledge of the only mammal known to be covered in scales.
AZA and Brookfield Zoo Chicago are calling attention to not only the urgent threats facing pangolins but also to the promise the anticipated pangopups hold and impact that collective conservation efforts can have on the species’ future. The public can support these efforts on World Pangolin Day (Feb. 21) and beyond by learning about the species while visiting the only pangolin visible in the United States at Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Habitat Africa! The Forest. The public can also support pangolin conservation at brookfieldzoo.org/donate and help combat wildlife trafficking through informed consumer choices and advocacy.
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About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and seven other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. Members of AZA are leaders in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit aza.org.
About Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Connect. Care. Conserve.
Since 1934, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a global leader in animal well-being and conservation, inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Zoo is a private nonprofit organization that operates on 235 acres of land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species—including many of Earth’s most endangered. Brookfield Zoo Chicago was the first zoo in the world to be Humane Certified™ by the American Humane Society for the care and welfare of its animals, and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and ArbNet. For more information, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org or follow @BrookfieldZoo on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Threads.
