SINGAPORE: Two male Sunda pangolins were found locked in a fight in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve on an afternoon in July, with the smaller of the two suffering serious injuries, resulting in it having to be put down.

The sighting was unusual as pangolins are nocturnal and usually seen alone unless in a mother-cub pair or during courtship. Pangolins are critically endangered in Singapore.

The last observed incident of aggression between Sunda pangolins was recorded approximately 20 years ago, occurring between November 2005 and February 2006.

The pangolins in the latest incident were found in a drain near the service road of the Bukit Kalang Service Reservoir, located in the nature reserve, at around 1pm on July 17, Nature in Singapore reported.

The online journal of NUS’s Lee Kong Chian Museum of Natural History publishes articles on the flora and fauna of Singapore.

The sighting was spotted by National Parks Council (NParks) staff.

The larger pangolin – which was almost twice the size of the other – was seen huddled around the smaller one, clinging to it with its tail and scaly claws.

The smaller pangolin was in a defensive posture, curled up in a ball. When threatened, these creatures often roll into a tight ball and use their hard, overlapping scales to protect themselves.

The larger pangolin was also seen trying to reach the other pangolin’s face with its front claws and raking its scales.

When rescuers tried to separate them, the larger pangolin stopped scratching but remained “tightly attached” to the other pangolin, clinging to it with its limbs and tail. When the larger pangolin’s tail was lifted, the smaller pangolin was released and quickly unfolded and moved away.

The pangolins were later placed in separate carriers and taken to the Mandai Wildlife Group, which operates Singapore’s four zoos, for evaluation and treatment.

Both pangolins were determined to be male, with the larger pangolin weighing 8.7 kg and the other 4.6 kg.

The smaller animal was placed under general anesthesia for examination. Veterinarians at Mandai found he had serious injuries, including extensive scratches, lacerations, abrasions and bruises around his face, neck, legs and abdominal area.

Despite immediate treatment, the smaller pangolin’s condition deteriorated and it was eventually euthanized for veterinary and welfare reasons, NParks conservation group director Lim Liang Jim and Mandai Wildlife Group veterinarian Charlene told The Straits Times Yeong.

Meanwhile, the larger pangolin had only minor injuries on its front legs. He responded well to treatment and was released back into the wild by NParks.

NParks and Mandai said that although such interactions are rarely observed, aggression between male pangolins is natural.

“We are unable to conclusively identify the reason behind the interaction, nor to draw conclusions about population density or habitat fragmentation based on this isolated incident,” they said.

They added that this record of aggression between the same species of Sunda pangolins may contribute to any future occurrences or studies of their behavior.

While the cause of the violence is unknown, the incident shows that pangolins are capable of inflicting serious injuries on their own species, the report said.

Sunda pangolins – which are native to Singapore – are critically endangered, primarily due to habitat loss and illegal trafficking for their scales and meat.

Usually shy and solitary in nature, the Sunda pangolin is nocturnal and relies heavily on its sense of smell to locate ants and termites – its main diet.

The previous incident of pangolin aggression documented in the early 2000s occurred on Pulau Tekong, one of Singapore’s offshore islands used by the military.

In that case, a male Sunda pangolin that was tracked to Pulau Tekong for a study was seen facing a larger pangolin. The younger of the two was later driven out by the older.

Both were observed to exhibit aggressive behavior towards each other, according to the 2007 study.

Mammal researcher Marcus Chua of the Lee Kong Chian Museum of Natural History said aggression between Sunda pangolins is not common.

Asked about the possible reasons behind the incident, he said it could have been due to same-sex aggression against each other.

“Pangolins are closely related to mammals in the order Carnivora, which includes cats and otters, where many species are territorial. Male pangolins may also be territorial,” said Chua, who added that the smaller pangolin in the latest incident was likely a young adult.

A higher population density could also lead to more frequent encounters between pangolins, he said. He ruled out predation because pangolins eat ants and termites, not their own kind.

“They could have met by chance, or the larger pangolin could have caught the scent of the smaller pangolin and then engaged in a fight that could have been a territorial match or a defense,” Chua said.

“We just don’t have enough knowledge to tell.”

What to do if you see a pangolin

Observe him from a safe distance and do not approach him. Sightings can be registered via the Singapore Pangolin Working Group website.

Do not handle the animal. Pangolins are wild animals with strong claws that they use to defend themselves when they feel threatened. Getting too close to a mother pangolin carrying a baby on her back can also cause the baby to fall and lead to mother abandonment.

If the pangolin is in an urban area, call NParks’ Animal Response Center on 1800-476-1600 or Acres on 9783-7782.

Drivers near natural areas should obey speed limits and slow down. Slow-moving pangolins are often injured or killed by vehicles when they stray too far from forested areas on roads.

Members of the public can contribute to the long-term survival of the pangolin by not purchasing any pangolin products such as meat, scales and medicine.

More information can be found on the Our Wild Neighbors website. – The Straits Times/ANN