Abstract
Simple SummarySemen collection is one of the first few foundational steps towards Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), however it is rarely conducted in the Malayan pangolin, Manis javanica. Semen was successfully retrieved in pangolins mainly via electroejaculation with the animal under general anesthesia, though facing a minor risk of urine contamination. The objective of this study is to report the success of semen collection with three different collection methods: electroejaculation, rectal massage and a combination of both methods in pangolins. The semen characteristics of the species are described in this study and the good semen qualities suggest future potential uses for ART. This study has found no difference between methods of semen collection. Captive and confiscated animals only differed in the percentages of live spermatozoa with overall good semen characteristics. The results from this study suggest that gamete recovery and biobank are feasible in the Malayan pangolin, which is essential to the management and conservation of this endangered species.This article describes the semen characteristics from different collection methods between captive and confiscated Malayan pangolins, Manis javanica. Semen was collected from 15 pangolins; two captive and 13 confiscated individuals at the mean weight of 9.36 ± 1.94 kg. The three semen collection methods employed were electroejaculation, rectal massage and a combination of both techniques. The semen characteristics (mean ± standard deviation) of the Malayan pangolin are volume (73.75 ± 144.57 µL), pH (7.63 ± 0.53), spermatozoa concentration (997.19 ± 728.98 × 106 /mL), total motility (59.60% ± 30.00%), progressive motility (48.95% ± 30.93%), mass motility (3.50 ± 1.50) and live spermatozoa (80.25% ± 13.45%). There was no significant difference in semen characteristics between the three collection methods. The percentages of live spermatozoa were significantly different, suggesting better samples from captive compared to confiscated animals. However, there was no significant difference in spermatozoa kinetics between the captive and confiscated samples, suggesting the potential of utilizing confiscated individuals for gamete recovery to conserve the genetic pool of pangolins. All three methods of semen collection were successfully performed in pangolins and should be considered; however, electroejaculation remains the most consistent method of obtaining semen from the species.
Highlights
The Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) is a critically endangered scaly anteater, with a home range in South East Asia
Semen collections were performed on the confiscated group once approved by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), within a week of confiscation
Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA), and this research was approved by the Wildlife Department under the approval code JHL(HQ)400-9/82 JLD 9
Summary
The Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) is a critically endangered scaly anteater, with a home range in South East Asia. This nocturnal mammal, belonging to the order Pholidota, is one of the eight extant species of pangolins, and is closely related to the order Carnivora [1,2]. The population of Malayan pangolins in Peninsular Malaysia and throughout the islands of Borneo is severely under the threat of local extinction due to the illegal wildlife trade [3]. Despite making the headlines during the recent coronavirus outbreak COVID-19 [5], pangolins are still being trafficked and the demand is still on the rise, as evidenced by the recent pangolins raid in Malaysia [6]. The sudden increase in the availability of genetic reserve makes it necessary to consider the development of a gamete storage technique, and to increase the capacity of biobanking
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