Little is known about the biology of Indian pangolins (Manis crassicaudata) both in captivity and wild. Nandankanan Zoological Park, India (NKZP) is maintaining Indian pangolin in captivity since last 50 years (1962–2013). The housing, husbandry and behavioural observations that have contributed to successful upkeep and breeding of Indian pangolins at NKZP are described in the present paper. The successful maintenance and breeding of this elusive nocturnal species indicate that it can survive in captivity with application of established care techniques. The species can be maintained more successfully in captivity with provisions for their unique biological and behavioural needs.

Most endangered species exist today in small populations, many of which are isolated. Evolution in such populations is largely governed by genetic drift. Empirical evidence for drift affecting striking phenotypes based on substantial genetic data are rare. Approximately 37% of tigers (Panthera tigris) in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (in eastern India) are pseudomelanistic, characterized by wide, merged stripes. Camera trap data across the tiger range revealed the presence of pseudomelanistic tigers only in Similipal. We investigated the genetic basis for pseudomelanism and examined the role of drift in driving this phenotype9s frequency. Whole-genome data and pedigree-based association analyses from captive tigers revealed that pseudomelanism cosegregates with a conserved and functionally important coding alteration in Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep), a gene responsible for similar traits in other felid species. Noninvasive sampling of tigers revealed a high frequency of the Taqpep p.H454Y mutation in Similipal (12 individuals, allele frequency = 0.58) and absence from all other tiger populations (395 individuals). Population genetic analyses confirmed few (minimal number) tigers in Similipal, and its genetic isolation, with poor geneflow. Pairwise F_ST (0.33) at the mutation site was high but not an outlier. Similipal tigers had low diversity at 81 single nucleotide polymorphisms (mean heterozygosity = 0.28, SD = 0.27). Simulations were consistent with founding events and drift as possible drivers for the observed stark difference of allele frequency. Our results highlight the role of stochastic processes in the evolution of rare phenotypes. We highlight an unusual evolutionary trajectory in a small and isolated population of an endangered species. Significance Small and isolated populations have low genetic variation due to founding bottlenecks and genetic drift. Few empirical studies demonstrate visible phenotypic change associated with drift using genetic data in endangered species. We used genomic analyses of a captive tiger pedigree to identify the genetic basis for a rare trait, pseudomelanism, in tigers. Genome sequencing and extensive genotyping of noninvasive samples across tiger range revealed unique spatial presence of this allele in the Similipal Tiger Reserve, India. Population genetic analyses confirmed that Similipal is a small and isolated population. Simulations suggest that intense founding bottlenecks could result in the observed patterns, implicating drift. Our study highlights ongoing phenotypic evolution, potentially from human-induced fragmentation, in endangered large carnivore populations.

Conservation breeding programmes as an essential tool for conservation of endangered species require a sound knowledge on behaviour of the species. At present time, knowledge of behaviour and biology of Indian pangolins is inadequate and inconsistent. During the present study, an ethogram was developed based on the behavioural observations of seven Indian pangolins (Manis crassicaudata) at Pangolin Conservation Breeding Centre, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha, India, between February 2012 and January 2013. A total of 27 behaviours of seven distinct behavioural categories (stationary body positions, locomotory patterns, maintenance behaviours, explorative behaviours, defensive behaviours, reproductive/social behaviours, and others) were described and illustrated. The results offer a consistent frame of reference for further studies on behavioural patterns of Indian pangolins. Besides, these preliminary observations could be useful in management and breeding of the species in captivity.