Adult pangolins have almost no natural predators due to their scales. Leopards and large cats occasionally attack, but the armor is highly effective. Eggs and young are more vulnerable. The combination of scales, curling, and odor keeps most predators away. Survival rates are higher than many small mammals. Even wild dogs struggle to breach the armor. It’s a rare example of near invulnerability in the wild.
This protection allows adults to live longer and reproduce more. Predation pressure is minimal compared to other mammals.
It illustrates how extreme physical adaptation can influence population dynamics. Armor trumps speed and aggression.
Predators usually target only juveniles or sick individuals.
CITES (cites.org)