One recent afternoon, during a game drive at Lamai area of Serengeti in light rain, we spotted several lions watching a herd of wildebeest on the horizon. As I followed them, the lions began stalking the herd, but alert zebras soon detected the danger and disrupted the pursuit. Just as I prepared for a possible hunt, something far rarer caught my attention: a pangolin—only my second sighting in 15 years in the bush.
As the lions moved closer, one lioness discovered the pangolin and immediately tried to attack it. The pangolin responded by curling tightly into a ball, exposing only its incredibly tough scales. The lioness repeatedly attempted to break through its armor, but after several unsuccessful efforts, she gave up and returned toward the cubs.
A second lioness soon arrived and tried her luck, but the pangolin remained perfectly protected and motionless. Eventually, she too abandoned the attempt. What began as a lion hunt became one of my most unexpected and memorable wildlife encounters—a remarkable demonstration of the pangolin’s natural defense. Some days in the wild simply cannot be scripted. On a trip with Natural Habitat Adventures
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