What This Zebra Defy The Odds And Shed Off Attacks From Both a Crocodile and a Lion

Watching animals in their natural habitat reminds us how impressive wildlife is. While some animals are prey to other animals, this doesn’t mean they don’t stand a chance at defending themselves. In fact, even the most vulnerable prey can defend itself enough to flee and escape killing. This was evidenced in a viral video you can watch below, which features a zebra escaping both a lion and a crocodile attack.

Zebras are prey to both crocodiles and lions. However, defying, all odds, the zebra in the video shown below, escaped both a lion and a crocodile attack — one after the other. Even more impressive, both attacks occurred in the water. Both the predators attempted to drown the zebra, but it was able to escape.

Watch the Impressive Footage

The video above shows a lion attempting to drown and zebra in the water. It is clearly struggling as a lion wraps its strong leg around the zebra’s neck, attempting to hold it underwater and drown it so it can consume it. Other lions are waiting and watching to take part in the attack if necessary somehow. however, the zebra is able to fight back and escape the lion attack. 

Unfortunately for the zebra, however, a crocodile, then takes its own shot at killing the zebra. The video shows the zebra struggling to escape the crocodile shortly after escaping the lien. Thankfully, the zebra is able to leave the area and defend itself well enough to get out of the water safely. Once it does, it begins to run away from the area. 

Where Do Lions, Zebras, and Crocodiles Live?

Lions, zebras, and crocodiles all live in Africa. Lions and crocodiles actually share the same prey. Zebras are prey to both the large cat and the large reptile. Lions have a wide range of habitats, from open planes to dry forests. On the other hand, zebras typically reside in treeless grasslands and Savannah woodlands. Crocodiles typically inhabit freshwater habitats like rivers, wetlands, and lakes.

Sometimes these territories overlap, and a zebra can find itself up against both a lion and a crocodile. This was shown in the video above. The zebra had to fight off both a lion and a crocodile in the water. As the lion hunted the zebra, the zebra somehow escaped the attempted drowning. It then ran off and was able to avoid a crocodile attack.

Do Lions Hunt Zebras?

Yes, zebras are lions’ main food source. Typically, lions ambush a zebra, using their strength and aggressiveness to tackle it to the ground before killing it. Most of the time, lions attack in packs. However, as shown in the video above, they sometimes fight individually as well. The lions will typically stalk their prey, and when they become close enough to it, they will pounce on it, taking it by surprise. This gives the prey little chance to defend itself.

In addition to zebras, lions feed off of each other large animals that can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. For instance, they eat wildebeests and can steal food sources from hyenas, leopards, and other predators. They also will often eat smaller animals like rodents and reptiles.

Do Crocodiles Hunt Zebras?

Yes, zebras are a man food store for crocodiles. Typically when a prey gets close to a crocodile, the large reptile will sneak up on it before clamping down on the prey’s body. Crocodiles will usually hunt anything they can get their teeth on. They will often perform what is called a death roll, which involves clamping on the neck of their prey and holding them underwater to drown them. This dismembers the body and breaks it into smaller pieces so that they can swallow the prey. A crocodile’s strong jaws give it the leg up on their prey.

In addition to zebra, crocodiles also hunt and eat insects, fish, frogs, lizards, crustaceans, and other small mammals. However, they will often take whatever they can get. If an animal enters their territory, they are likely to strike.

Do Lions and Crocodiles Hunt Each Other?

Typically, lions and crocodiles don’t hunt or kill each other. However, this can happen. Crocodiles have more of an advantage when the lion enters their habitat in the water. However, when the crocodile is on land, lions have the upper hand. Both the large reptile and the large wild cat are powerful and aggressive in their own ways, making the fight relatively even. Ultimately, however, the crocodile is more likely to win in a fight with a lion.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sagar Smooth Photography/Shutterstock.com