Fierce predators usually adhere to mutual respect since each can harm or even kill the other.
Still, crocs and lions share some habitats, and a clash once in a while is inevitable. A crocodile may attack a lion that gets into the water, while lions may hunt and eat younger crocs.
Fights between adult lions and crocodiles are motivated mainly by predators’ desire to steal the other’s food. Lions are usually the aggressors, but these fights are rare.
A tourist was lucky to capture one such fight between three lions and a crocodile. But, it seems that the lions bit off more than they could chew. The croc viciously defends itself and keeps the lions off its back.
Why Couldn’t the Lions Take Down the Croc?
In a one-on-one battle, the croc will have the upper hand. Size, weight, and strategy often determine the outcome of fights in the wild. An adult croc could weigh up to 1,150 lbs, compared to the lion’s 400 lbs.
The size difference makes it difficult for a lion to injure the croc without risking its life, especially if the fight is in water. The croc could grab the lion with its powerful jaws and drown it.
A lion could kill a younger crocodile, but the fight will likely be vicious. Such a fight usually lasts hours and leaves both animals with fatal injuries.
But, if two or more lions attack a crocodile, the equation shifts to favor the lion. Lions could launch a calculated attack that will see them stay away from the crocs’ strike zone and attack the croc’s vulnerable areas.
For instance, one lion could distract the crocodile from the front allowing the other to sneak behind the croc and sink its teeth behind its neck and choke it to death.
The three lions in the videos had the advantage of speed and numbers, but they lacked a strategy to distract and pin down the reptile.
Do Lions Eat Crocodiles?
Lions eat crocodiles even though these are not their preferred meat source. A lion’s diet comprises mainly land animals such as zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, and wildebeests.
Another reason why crocs do not feature much in a lion’s diet is that it is not easy to kill one. Crocs have a row of 60 sharp teeth and a biting force of 3,700 psi. A lion will choose a defenseless zebra anytime instead of risking injuries while trying to take down a croc.
Sometimes, lions kill crocodiles and abandon their carcasses to emphasize their dominance. If the conflict is motivated by the lion’s desire to steal the croc’s food, the croc may escape their wrath.
However, if the croc aggressively fights for the carcass, the lions may decide to kill it.
Competition is the other reason why lions kill crocodiles. Crocs and lions eat similar foods, and reducing the number of crocs means more meat for the king of the jungle.
Up Next
- Watch a Cornered Crocodile Fight Five Adult Lions
- Watch Two Male Lions Play Hide and Seek with Dinner
- See the Insane Footage of an Adult Lion and Tiger Battling in China
The post This Lion Pride Teams Up for a Lightning-Fast Crocodile Attack appeared first on AZ Animals.
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