Watch This Invincible Rhino Fearlessly Take on 18 Lions in Front of a Massive Audience

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Written by Angie Menjivar

Updated: November 9, 2023

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They say you should pick on someone your own size, but lions didn’t get the memo. The video below shows how bold lions get when they’re working together in a large pride.

Are Safaris With Rhinos and Lions Dangerous?

A lioness, Panthera leo, runs with ears back and mouth open from spotted hyenas, Crocuta crocuta

As apex predators, lions can eat pretty much anything they want.

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Lions are some of the top predators found throughout the world, and you often see people loaded onto safari trucks smackdab in the center of the habitats where these animals dwell. When there’s conflict — and there’s bound to be — are humans safe in these often open-air vehicles? Interestingly, it’s a much safer ride than the one you take on your commute to work, bumper to bumper, with vehicles that all have the capacity to kill you. While not predatory, they are more dangerous than a safari ride.

Can A Pride of Lions Take Down a Rhino

lions

Lions hunting in prides can take down huge prey like rhinos.

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Lions are smart hunters. They know that to take animals down, they need their pride. This is why they’re often seen hunting together, ready to tackle prey, work as a team, and finally feast together too. Most of the time, they choose animals they know they can easily bring down. Those include animals like zebras and antelopes. They may also go for buffaloes. Some of the larger prey animals on their menu include rhinos! However, that’s an animal they have to work hard to take down.

18 Lions vs. 1 Rhino

White rhinoceros, square-lipped rhinoceros or rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorynchus). Mpumalanga. South Africa.

The rhino is a formidable opponent that does not back down from a fight.

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When the video below starts, several lions are moving quickly around a huge rhino. There is a safari truck in the background, taking in the scene. The video cuts, and you get an incredible view of the safari park they’re in. First, there are several giraffes standing alongside several zebras. The camera pans a bit to the right, and there is a herd of wildebeests. They’re all calmly standing around. Their attention is focused on the action. The camera pans back to the left, and you can see where the rhino is positioned compared to the rest of the animals.

Several lions are crouched, and some are standing. The rhino knows it’s being targeted and is keeping its gaze steady on the pride. It charges forward, its head down and its horn forward, kicking up dirt as it does. The lions that had huddled right in front of it quickly scattered. Now, the rhino is surrounded, and while some lions seem to make an attempt to attack, they quickly change direction when the rhino turns toward them. Eventually, the rhino takes off, but even as the video ends, the lions are still in hot pursuit.

Is It Normal For Rhinos to Fight Lions?

a group of white rhinos in the wild

It is normal for a rhino to defend itself when attacked.

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In the vast African savannah, where nature’s raw power unfolds, a gripping spectacle often plays out – an epic battle between two apex predators. On one side stands the mighty rhinoceros, armed with its formidable horn and unwavering determination. On the other side lurks a pride of lions, cunning and relentless in their pursuit of survival.

When confronted by these ferocious felines seeking to topple it from its throne as king of the grasslands, does the rhino surrender or submit? Far from it! For this magnificent creature possesses an indomitable spirit that defies all odds. It braces itself for combat, utilizing every ounce of strength within its colossal frame to repel each predator’s advance.

This clash between lion and rhino showcases a facet of normal rhino behavior – an astonishing display of courage and resilience in the face of imminent danger. While solitary by nature, when threatened or challenged territorially, these majestic giants can unleash their innate aggression to protect themselves or their kin.

For centuries, such battles have unfolded across Africa’s untamed landscapes. They are emblematic not only of individual rhinos but also reflect the unwritten code ingrained in their species’ DNA – never back down when faced with adversity.

How Large Do Rhinos Get?

Rhino, Dust, Running, Charge

The White Rhino is the largest out of the two different species.

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The African rhino species consists of two types: the smaller one being the Black rhino. On average, Black rhinos stand at a height of 5.2 feet and weigh between 1,720 and 3,080 pounds. On the other hand, the larger species is the White rhino, which weighs between 3,080 and 7,920 pounds and stands at a height of 5 to 6 feet.


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About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

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