Females usually give birth to a single offspring after a gestation period of 3–5 months depending on species. The baby pangolin is born with soft scales that harden over days. Mothers carry young on their tails while foraging. Weaning occurs around three months. Parental investment is intensive. The mother teaches foraging and survival skills. This slow reproduction makes population recovery difficult.
Slow reproductive rate contributes to vulnerability. Each offspring’s survival is crucial.
It highlights evolutionary trade-offs between offspring care and population growth.
Young pangolins cling to their mother’s back or tail during first weeks.
National Geographic (nationalgeographic.com)