Did you know that the pangolin is able to roll up into an armour-plated ball, so lions can’t eat them?! 🦁

The pangolin is an unusual mammal found in Africa and Asia. These nocturnal creatures are covered in hard scales, which act as armour against predators. When threatened, pangolins can quickly roll up into a tight ball, using their scales as protection. This makes them very difficult for predators to eat.

Pangolins are the only mammals with this type of armour. Their scales are made of keratin, the same material found in human fingernails and hair. Each scale is attached to the pangolin’s skin with a tough protein called alpha-keratin.

The pangolin’s scales provide excellent protection against predators. When a pangolin feels threatened, it will quickly roll up into a tight ball. The scales on its back and belly fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, forming a hard shell. The pangolin’s head and tail are tucked under its body, and its claws curl up, making it even more difficult for predators to get a good grip.

Once rolled up, the pangolin is very difficult for predators to open. Even lions and tigers have been known to give up after trying to eat a pangolin. If a predator does manage to open the pangolin’s armour, it will often find that the pangolin has already escaped.

Pangolins are gentle creatures that are sadly under threat from humans. Their meat is considered a delicacy in some cultures, and their scales are used in traditional medicine. As a result, pangolins are being hunted to the brink of extinction.

If we want to save these amazing animals, we need to raise awareness of the threat they face and work to protect them.