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The IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group
has discussed the potential impact of
sustainable hunting in countries that
have pangolins, said Aitken-Palmer.
“I argued that there is really no sustainable
hunting because the reproductive rate
is so low for pangolins. The recovery
of the population would take place very
slowly and that should impact discussions
on allowable takes.”
Aitken-Palmer is proud of the pangolin
research she and others have conducted
at Brookfield Zoo. “The focus of the
research has been to build the science
about the pangolins’ physiology to help
people who are trying to understand
what is happening to the wild population Above, top (left to right): Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai, senior vice president of Animal Health & Welfare,
and working on creating policy. It’s been and Dr. Julie Sheldon, former veterinary resident at Brookfield Zoo and currently on the faculty at the
a meaningful contribution by the Zoo.” University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, examine a pangolin pup that was born at Brookfield Zoo.
Above, bottom: At nearly 6 feet long, this confiscated Chinese giant salamander was the size of a raisin when
it arrived at Brookfield Zoo from O’Hare Airport in 2016. It survived with the care of Brookfield Zoo staff.

BROOKFIELD ZOO | SUMMER 2023 35