Watch the ‘King of the Jungle’ Deliver a Dominant Blow to a Snarling Crocodile’s Face

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If you think lions are only interested in hunting zebras and antelopes, think again. A viral video captured by some lucky tourists shows a pair of lions taking on a massive crocodile in a watering hole. The footage is so incredible that you might think it’s a scene from a movie, but it’s all real.

The video starts with a lion approaching the side of a watering hole, clearly in a hunter’s pose with its head lowered. The people recording are getting excited and can barely keep the camera still as they are so amazed at what’s about to unfold. As the lion approaches the water, we see that it’s actually heading toward a huge crocodile that is basking in the sun. The camera zooms out, and we see that this isn’t some freak occurrence; there is another lion nearby who seems to have already been targeting the crocodile.

As the clip continues, the larger lion of the two attempts to attack the croc and whomps it on the head a few times. The reptile snarls and snaps back, but the lion doesn’t back down. It looks like a fierce battle between two apex predators, but after a bit of a standstill, the lion seems to realize that this meal is riskier than it’s worth and heads off to be with its cub, who probably learned a valuable lesson.

Do Lions Normally Hunt Crocodiles?

Typically, these two animals will avoid each other but there are instances when lions and crocodiles do occasionally clash over food and territory, especially near water sources. Lions are opportunistic hunters and will try to catch anything that looks edible, even if it means taking on a formidable opponent. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are usually wary of lions and will avoid them unless provoked or threatened. While it may not be a common occurrence, it is normal for these two formidable opponents to clash.

Although we can’t be certain, the lion seemed to be randomly digging in the sand as it approached the crocodile, potentially signaling that it wasn’t actually trying to eat the crocodile but gain access to a nest that the croc was protecting. Eggs are a much easier prey source than any live crocodile would be, so it makes some sense. Still, we can’t be sure!