Watch a Lion Chase a Cheetah And Quickly Get Lost In the Dust

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One is faster than the other. But one is more powerful. When these two interact in the wild, they don’t always head in opposite directions. Watch the lion in the video at the bottom of the page set its sight on a cheetah and give chase.

Can Lions Catch Up to a Cheetah?

Lions are powerful apex predators, able to launch themselves into the air, leaping over 30 feet and reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (MPH). However, despite their prowess, they cannot compete with the top speed of a cheetah, which is 80 MPH. These spotted creatures are more agile, relying on speed to escape dangerous situations and take down prey. Lions, on the other hand, rely on their pride for prey takedowns or their stealth when hunting solo.

Do Lions Attack Cheetahs in the Wild?

Despite lions knowing they can’t outrun cheetahs; they do make attempts to take them down — and sometimes they’re successful. A lion’s preferred prey doesn’t include cheetahs. They often go for animals like wildebeests, buffalo, and zebras. But on occasion, they take down cheetahs. They don’t eat them though. When a lion takes down a cheetah, it’s because the cheetah represents competition. A lion declares its supremacy by taking down another predator, letting all know who rules as king. Although cheetahs have lions beat in terms of speed, if it’s not swift enough to get away, a lion can easily overpower a cheetah with its size and strength.

Lion vs. Cheetah

When the video below starts, there are two red circles on the screen. The one on the left points to a lion and the one on the right points to a cheetah. The lion is walking, and the cheetah is sitting on the ground, staring at it. After several slow steps, the lion starts running toward the cheetah. The cheetah, not interested in sticking around to learn what the lion wants, immediately stands up and turns its body, keeping its head turned to keep an eye on the lion. It takes a few sideways steps, keeping its eyes locked on the lion, deciding if it should run. The lion keeps closing in on the cheetah, so the cheetah decides it’s best to get moving. Even though the lion gets a head start and the cheetah doesn’t run full speed, the cheetah still manages to leave the lion in the dust.