“The pangopup is strong and very active,” said keeper David Vala. “The footage from the camera placed in the “burrow” shows it is moving and regularly suckles its mother’s milk. However, it has yet to gain weight and is still in the most critical period. We are in constant contact with our Taiwanese colleagues and will artificially rear it if necessary.”

Pangolins are the only mammals covered in scales. There are eight species in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. They are endangered due to hunting and illegal trade and Prague Zoo is involved in their conservation. Until recently, attempts to breed pangolins in zoos had been unsuccessful. Currently only two zoos in Europe have them, and the “Prague” pangopup is the first to be born in Europe.