Watch A Fearless Lizard Fend Off a Cobra and Two Lions

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The African wilderness is home to some amazing animals. A cobra and two lions came across each other on a path. The lions kept their distance from the venomous snake and the cobra didn’t go after the ferocious lions. So who would win in this standoff? Our hypothetical fight between a lion and a cobra has the lion winning, just due to its overwhelming size and power. Although, if the cobra managed to bite the lion, the big cat wouldn’t make it much longer than the cobra.

It turns out that a small lizard actually takes the title during this encounter. The lizard comes into view and the snake slithers off. The lions are initially curious but decide to give the lizard his space as well. The entire clip is just a minute long but the sheer bravery of the lizard taking on these three animals is amazing.

The footage was shot by a nature guide at the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. You can see people watching from a vehicle nearby at the beginning of the clip. They wisely let all of the animals decide what to do without interfering. Wild animals can be unpredictable. Approaching them can put the person and the animal in danger. The guide tells the other people what animals they are looking at, pointing out the cobra and the lizard.

The video ends when the lions back off and let the lizard continue his day. We’ll never know if they were truly threatened by the lizard or just didn’t think he was worth the trouble. Based on their reputation as fierce hunters, we’re guessing that the lions decided that the lizard wouldn’t make a tasty enough meal.

Is This Normal Behavior for Lions?

Lions only hunt when they need to and will often lounge by potential prey without making any moves against them. We’re guessing that these lionesses didn’t see the lizard as a potential meal. Instead, they approached it with more curiosity. One of the lionesses is seen hesitantly reaching out a paw close to the lizard on the ground. This looks almost like a domestic housecat playing with a toy.

Cobras are highly venomous and the lions were smart to keep their distance. It’s likely that they had encountered venomous snakes before. Animals have an amazing way of using their instincts to give dangerous animals their distance. Even as an apex predator in Africa, lions can still be attacked by the snake. A bite may not take them down but the venom will surely do a lot of harm.

Is This Normal Behavior for Cobras?

When it comes to fight or flight, cobras will almost always choose flight. So it’s not surprising that the cobra decides to leave the path. What is surprising is that it doesn’t seem to do so as a reaction to the lions. Instead, it is the lizard that makes the cobra slither off into the grass. Whatever the reason, this cobra lives to fight another day.

Is This Normal Lizard Behavior?

Lizards have to hold their own against predators on the African savannah. While it likely doesn’t face much aggression from lions, the lizard was probably more wary of the cobra. Cobras eat lizards, as well as rodents, birds, eggs, and even other snakes. It is quite unusual for a lizard to take on a cobra and win!