Sunda pangolins might be familiar to most Singaporeans, here's two just taking in the sights at the Singapore zoo.

But they are actually a critically endangered species.

However, sometimes these slow-moving creatures invariably become roadkill.

Traffic accidents are a major threat to them in Singapore.

Over the past six years, the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) has received more than 100 wild pangolins and have successfully rehabilitated 80% of them.

Nevertheless, more can be done to prevent such deaths and to provide a way for Sunda pangolins to coexist with us.

Roadmap to pangolin conservation

Concerted effort from multi-agencies

For years, wildlife stakeholders and government agencies worldwide have sought to protect the critically endangered Sunda pangolins.

Last year, a group of 50 conservationists gathered at the Singapore Zoo for a workshop to consider the status of the pangolin in Singapore and discuss the long-term approach for its conservation.

This culminated in the National Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 2018 which was launched today, Sep. 18.

The conservation action plan will be operationalised by multiple stakeholders and agencies such as Singapore Pangolin Working Group (SPWG), Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), National Parks Board (NParks), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES).

Second Minister of National Development Desmond Lee, who was at the launch, highlighted the importance of integrating wildlife and nature into development in his opening address.

"Being successful in conserving biodiversity in a small city-state like Singapore requires more than just leaving nature alone – that is important, but recognising the proximity in which man is to our green areas means that we must do more than that."

This requires a sense of stewardship and ownership by the public as well as multi-parties working groups for conservation to grow and establish so as to forge common understanding to come up with win-win solutions, that is together for man and animals.

Five milestones of this roadmap

The conservation plan will be executed with the following five goals in the next few years with specific actions, success indicators, timelines and stakeholders involved.

1. To gather and share information on the Sunda Pangolin’s status, ecology, biology and behaviour through ongoing studies and new initiatives.

2. To ensure viable populations through habitat protection, restoration, and connectivity.

3. To establish wildlife-conscious urban planning policies and measures that protect Sunda pangolins.

4. To develop successful rescue, rehabilitation and release strategies for the Sunda Pangolin and secure the resources to implement them.

5. To generate collaborations, clear communication, and awareness across all relevant agencies and solidify commitment to the conservation of Sunda pangolins.

For a start, a Sunda pangolin named Sandshrew, that WRS rescued and rehabilitated, was released to the wild at the launch today.

Sandshrew was soft released into an enclosed area and the gate will be left open for it to leave voluntarily into the wild.

A radio tracking device was attached to the scale to monitor its movement in the wild.

Staff and volunteers will take turns to monitor Sandshrew  to ensure it is adjusting well in the wild.

The operation will be useful to develop protocols for future rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Sunda pangolin as part of Singapore's natural heritage

Lee concludes with this take on what would constitute Singapore pride.

"This reflects, in a way, a special kind of responsibility, that a small city-state like Singapore, who prides ourselves as a City in a Garden has. We want to be able to showcase this work, evolve it in a uniquely Singapore way, and it will be the thriving of native Singapore wildlife that will be our pride."

Watch our reluctant keepers' encounter with a Sunda pangolin here:

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