Gasps, protecting girl from fierce predators (8)
I believe the answer is:
panthers
'fierce predators' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'gasps protecting girl' is the wordplay.
'gasps' becomes 'pants' ('pant' can be a synonym of 'gasp').
'protecting' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or protected).
'girl' becomes 'her' ('her' refers to a girl or woman).
'pants' going around 'her' is 'PANTHERS'.
'from' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for panthers that I've seen before include "These felines can net harps, strangely" , "American big cats" .)