KOTA KINABALU: Villagers living on the fringes of forests in Sabah came to the aid of two injured pangolin pups, known as pangopups, that had wandered near their homes earlier this month.
Tragically, one of the pangopups succumbed, believed to have died from stress, while the other is currently receiving care from the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU).
According to the WRU, the first rescue took place in the Tambunan district on September 13, when a resident was alerted by his dog’s barking. Upon investigating, he found a pangopup weighing 1.45 kg with a minor tail injury.
“The WRU was immediately contacted for assistance. Our rangers sheltered it overnight at the Wildlife Rescue Centre (WRC) before transferring it to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park clinic the following morning,” the WRU stated on its official Facebook page on Friday (Sept 27).
“Despite receiving intensive care, the pangopup’s condition deteriorated, likely due to stress and it sadly passed away on September 16. Its brief struggle serves as a reminder of how delicate and vulnerable these creatures are when separated from their natural environment,” the WRU added.
The second rescue took place in the Kudat district, where another pangopup, less than a month old and weighing only 0.6 kg, was found near the rescuer’s home. After being assessed and deemed healthy by the Sabah Wildlife Department’s veterinarian, the WRU took over its care, feeding the young animal milk every three hours to ensure its nourishment. This pangopup remains under the WRU’s care until it is ready for release.
These rescues reflect both sorrow and hope, emphasising the vital role of local communities and wildlife teams in safeguarding these precious species, even when outcomes are uncertain.
“We hope this story inspires more people to show compassion towards Sabah’s wildlife and to contact rescue teams whenever animals are in distress—every small action can make a difference,” the WRU stated.
The WRU also expressed gratitude to the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), Orangutan Appeal UK and the Oregon Zoo for their contributions, which support wildlife operations.
