A pangolin enrichment device
By designing a pangolin enrichment device that uses the feeding hole in the tongue and a spherical layer to simulate wild feeding behavior, the problem of decreased tongue muscle utilization and stereotyped behavior caused by traditional feeding bowls was solved, thereby improving the pangolin's activity level and adaptability to wild feeding.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUANGDONG ACAD OF FORESTRY
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Traditional feeding methods lead to decreased utilization of the pangolin's tongue muscles and stereotyped behaviors, affecting its ability to adapt to foraging in the wild.
A pangolin feeding enrichment device was designed, comprising a box structure, a feeding hole on the tongue, and a spherical layer, to simulate wild foraging behavior. The design of the feeding hole on the tongue and the spherical layer simulates the behavior chain of pangolins feeding on ant nests in the wild.
It improved the activity level of pangolins during captivity, reduced stereotyped behaviors, and enhanced their adaptability to foraging in the wild.
Smart Images
Figure CN224572002U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pangolin breeding technology, and more specifically to a pangolin feeding enrichment device. Background Technology
[0002] Pangolins are mainly distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. Due to factors such as illegal human trade, habitat fragmentation, and specialized species habits, the number of pangolins has declined sharply, and wild populations are on the verge of extinction. The Chinese pangolin is listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
[0003] Currently, the main method of protecting pangolins is captive breeding. Pangolins are highly specialized mammals, primarily feeding on ants and termites, obtaining food by inserting their tongues into ant nests. However, captive pangolins are typically fed in conventional food bowls, which differs from their foraging methods in the wild. Traditional bowl feeding can lead to decreased utilization of the pangolin's tongue muscles. Furthermore, the rapid eating speed of pangolins fed in traditional bowls reduces their activity levels and can induce stereotyped behaviors, impacting their ability to forage in the wild after release. Therefore, an enrichment feeding device is needed to provide daily training for pangolins. Utility Model Content
[0004] An enrichment device for pangolins includes a box structure with several tongue-shaped feeding holes formed at the top; a spherical layer is installed in the middle of the box structure; the spherical layer includes multiple fixed shafts fixed in the middle of the box structure, and multiple spheres are rotatably connected to the fixed shafts via bearings; a food dispensing drawer is slidably connected to the lower part of the box structure, and a hidden handle is installed on the side of the food dispensing drawer.
[0005] A further improvement is that the diameter of the tongue feeding hole is 2.5-3 cm.
[0006] A further improvement is that the diameter of the sphere is 6-7 cm.
[0007] In a further improvement, the spherical layer may be one or two layers.
[0008] Further improvements include fixing the axes in each spherical layer at the same horizontal level and setting them parallel to each other, with the spheres in contact with each other.
[0009] In a further improvement, the box structure 1 is rectangular, with length, height and width dimensions of 40cm×30cm×20cm.
[0010] In a further improvement, the sphere 3 is a plastic sphere.
[0011] The beneficial effects that this utility model can achieve are: This invention, by setting a feeding hole on the tongue and a sphere, allows the pangolin to simulate entering the entrance of an ant nest through the feeding hole and push the soil with its tongue through the sphere when feeding. The rolling characteristic of the sphere requires the pangolin to continuously adjust the angle and force of its tongue, simulating the behavior chain of feeding on ant nests in the wild. This reduces the stereotypical behavior of pangolins in artificial breeding and increases the speed at which pangolins adapt to wild feeding after release. Attached Figure Description
[0012] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional structural diagram of the present invention.
[0013] The box structure includes: 1. Tongue feeding hole; 2. Sphere; 3. Food dispensing drawer; 4. Hidden handle; 5. Fixed shaft; 6. Detailed Implementation
[0014] Example An enrichment device for pangolins includes a rectangular box structure 1 with dimensions of 40cm × 30cm × 20cm (length × height × width). It can also be modified to a circular or other shape as needed. The box structure 1 is completely sealed, with only a feeding hole at the top, to prevent other animals, such as rats, from stealing feed and causing disease transmission. The box structure 1 is preferably made of stainless steel, which is sufficiently robust and easy to sterilize in a sterilizer.
[0015] The top of the box structure 1 has two rows of three tongue feeding holes 2, each row having a diameter of 1.5-2cm.
[0016] The box structure 1 has a spherical layer installed in the middle, or it can be set to two layers; the spherical layer includes multiple fixed shafts 6 fixed in the middle of the box structure 1, and multiple spheres 3 with a diameter of 3-5cm are rotatably connected to the fixed shafts 6. Preferably, adjacent spheres 3 are in contact with each other; the lower part of the box structure 1 is slidably connected to the food dispensing drawer 4, and the side of the food dispensing drawer 4 is equipped with a hidden handle 5, which is convenient for changing and dispensing food, and can prevent the pangolin from accidentally pulling out the food dispensing drawer 4.
[0017] In use, food (such as ants) is placed in the food dispensing drawer 4, and then the food dispensing drawer 4 is inserted into the lower part of the box structure 1. Preferably, the box structure 1 is partially buried in the soil of the breeding farm or covered with decaying leaves to further simulate the feeding scene. When the pangolin feeds, its tongue first enters the tongue feeding hole 2, and then it needs to push the spheres 3 through the gaps 7 between the spheres 3 to reach the food dispensing drawer 4 to pick up the food. The rolling characteristics of the spheres require the pangolin to continuously adjust the angle and force of its tongue. Furthermore, the spheres 3 are made of plastic to reduce their weight. The lighter weight facilitates the rotation of the spheres and reduces the resistance of the pangolin's tongue. After the pangolin has finished feeding in the area corresponding to the current tongue feeding hole 2, it needs to pull out its tongue and enter another tongue feeding hole 2 to lick the remaining food, repeating the process of passing through the gaps 6 between the spheres 3.
[0018] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this utility model without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this utility model, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this utility model.
Claims
1. A feeding device for pangolin, comprising a box structure (1), characterized in that, The top of the box structure (1) has several tongue-feeding holes (2); a spherical layer is installed in the middle of the box structure (1); the spherical layer includes multiple fixed shafts (6) fixed in the middle of the box structure (1), and multiple spheres (3) are rotatably connected to the fixed shafts (6) through bearings; the lower part of the box structure (1) is slidably connected to a food dispensing drawer (4), and a hidden handle (5) is installed on the side of the food dispensing drawer (4).
2. The feeding device for pangolin according to claim 1, wherein, The diameter of the tongue feeding hole (2) is 2.5-3 cm.
3. The feeding device for pangolin according to claim 1, wherein, The diameter of the sphere (3) is 6-7 cm.
4. The feeding device for pangolin according to claim 1, wherein, The spherical layer may be one or two layers.
5. The feeding device for pangolin according to claim 4, wherein, The fixed axes in each spherical layer are at the same horizontal height and are set parallel to each other, with the spheres (3) in contact with each other.
6. The feeding device for pangolin according to claim 1, wherein, The box structure (1) is rectangular, with length, height and width dimensions of 40cm×30cm×20cm.
7. The feeding device for pangolin according to claim 1, wherein, The sphere (3) is a plastic sphere.