Watch a Fearless Crocodile March Right Into Lion Territory and Instantly Regretting It

Wildlife never ceases to amaze us. A recent viral video showcases a crocodile being attacked by a group of lions — a rare event that was shockingly captured on tape. In the video, the pride of lions gathers around the crocodile, which is out of its natural habitat, and works together to kill the crocodile. It’s evident that the crocodile is trying to protect itself as it whips around and tries to bite and fight off the lions, but it stands no chance against the dedicated pride.

The video, which you can watch below, is a true testament to the unpredictability of nature and wildlife. While they share the same habitat, it’s uncommon for an alligator to venture into a lion’s territory on land. It’s evident why this occurrence is rare.

Watch the Footage Below

The above footage shows a group of lions surrounding a crocodile that is attempting to escape. The crocodile lurches its head around, trying to fight off the lions as each of them takes their turn biting the crocodile. As a group, the lions work together to wear down the crocodile until one of the lions pins the creature down, ultimately leading to its defeat and death. The other lions then have the chance to kill and eat the crocodile, but this is considered to be rare. Lions are typically afraid of confronting crocodiles, but given the fact that these lions were hunting in a pack, they had more courage to take on the huge reptile.

Do Lions Typically Attack Crocodiles?

No, lions don’t usually attack crocodiles. In fact, it’s relatively rare for lions to go after crocodiles, as shown in the footage above. However, lions will kill and eat a croc if there are no other food sources available or if they see the crocodile as a threat. Typically, when this does occur, lions will go for smaller crocodiles if the opportunity presents itself.

In a fight between a lion and a crocodile, however, many believe that crocodiles would typically win. This is because the reptile is much larger than the wild cat (and has a powerful bite!) But since many lions work in groups, crocodiles don’t stand as much of a chance when fighting for their life.

Do Lions Hunt in Packs?

Lions hunt in both packs and individually. When hunting in a pact, typically, the lioness will find and fight its prey individually, initiating the kill. The rest of the pack will then rally around to help secure the meal. Working in groups like this helps lions ultimately defeat their prey.

It’s more common for female lions to hunt together, while male lions tend to hunt on their own. In both cases, lion usually ambush their prey to kill them. Taking him by surprise is a great way to secure the kill. This ensures the prey does not have enough time to fight back, giving it less of an advantage. Lions most often hunt in groups of two or three.

Can Crocodiles Fight on Land?

Yes, crocodiles can and do fight on land. Typically, they perform a move referred to as the death roll. This involves using a powerful fourth to pin down a predator or prey until it’s dead. However, this is far more deadly of a move when performed in the water as opposed to on land. This is because crocodiles will drown their target when performing the death role in the water.

Crocodile attacks are 100 times more deadly than shark attacks, as a crocodile has the most powerful bite in the world. Additionally, these attacks are far more common than shark attacks, which are actually quite rare.

Where Do Lions and Crocodiles Live?

Lions and crocodiles both live in Africa. The two often share the same territories and — for the most part — avoid each other. However, they also share the same prey, such as small mammals like zebras and grassland animals. 

This can cause contention between the two, especially if a crocodile were to make its way onto the land, where the lions are hunting for food. While lion and crocodile encounters are quite rare, they are not impossible. This means that, sometimes, the two animals will see each other in a deadly fight. Depending on the size of the crocodile and the lion, as well as the number of each animal present during the altercation, the fight between a crocodile and the lion might be neck-and-neck.