Huge Rhino Walks Out of a Mud Bath and Faces Off Against a Lion

It takes this huge rhino a while to get out of it mud bath – mud can be sticky! But once it gets going, it really shows this pride of lions who is boss. The lions try jumping on its back but as soon as it manages to turn around and wield it’s deadly horn, they soon back away. As the clip at the bottom of this page shows, rhinos are a huge challenge – even for a group of adult lions.

Watch the Incredible Footage Below

Why Do Rhinos Wallow in Mud?

We have to ask ourselves why rhinos wallow in mud when it clearly takes them so long to get out of it! Whilst they are stuck in the mud, they are also more vulnerable to attack. However, wallowing in shallow water and mud is a critical part of rhino behavior.

They tend to do it at the hottest time of the year which is between October and March. They are also most likely to be found in mud during the hottest parts of the day. Experts believe that mud wallowing is essential for thermoregulation. It helps to keep the rhino’s body at a safe temperature. Also, it protects against ectoparasites. The mud stops the rhino from getting bitten by pesky insects.

How Do Rhinos Protect Themselves?

As well as using their huge body size, rhinos also use their horns for protection. Rhinos can weigh thousands of pounds and are the second largest land mammal. Only elephants are larger than them. They have two horns that are positioned one in front of the other. They grow continually throughout the life of the rhino and are made of keratin.

This rhino also shows us its moves! Rhinos may not be the fastest animals on the planet, but their speed together with their size makes them a formidable force. A charging rhino could do a lot of damage to a lion’s body.

They have a walking speed of around two mph and a trotting speed of around 18 mph. However, they can charge at speeds of over 25 mph and can keep this up for short distances. There is no danger of the rhino catching the lion which has a higher speed and greater stamina.

Whilst it is possible for lions to kill rhinos, it is very unusual for a lion pride to be able to overcome a fit, adult rhino.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Pornchanok Anukoolprasert/Shutterstock.com