Buzz
In various interpretations, the lion is crowned as the King of the Jungle—or the King of the Forest—despite the fact that lions don't actually reside in jungles, and it’s the females who handle most of the hunting and killing. Nevertheless, the lion reigns supreme. With that title come challengers, much like Scar and his hyenas plotting against Mufasa.
While most species understand their place beneath the mighty lion, some have become more daring. They aim to use their massive size, venom, or even sharp claws to overthrow the lion… and they succeed. Despite the lion's speed and strength, many creatures outmatch them in the wild. Though lions may not have any true natural enemies, numerous animals exploit their numerical advantage or target vulnerable lions—whether it be the young, elderly, or sick—to take them down and feast.
Below are ten animals that have the strength, power, or cunning to kill lions.
10. Crocodiles
Nile crocodiles are the second-largest reptiles on Earth, surpassed only by saltwater crocodiles. Like lions, they hold the title of apex predators; no animal hunts Nile crocs for food. That’s because no creature would be foolish enough, not even humans (until guns were invented and became affordable). Even with guns, humans have little chance of escaping unscathed if a Nile crocodile gets a solid grip. So it's no shock that they are capable of, and occasionally do, take on lions.
In fact, there are numerous recorded instances of Nile crocs attacking lions. These ambushes typically occur when a lion is drinking or eating near a waterhole. The frequency of these croc vs. lion encounters raises an interesting question: are lions truly apex predators?
Most ecologists (myself included, as a former ecologist) would argue that lions are still at the top of the food chain. Nile crocs only attack lions when the opportunity arises, usually when they’re desperate, and they generally prefer slower, easier prey. But the undeniable fact remains: Nile crocs do eat lions, which is an impressive feat under any circumstances.
9. Black Mambas
You've likely heard of black mambas. This is probably due to Uma Thurman’s portrayal in “Kill Bill,” but more likely because they are widely regarded as the most terrifying snake in Africa. As the second-largest venomous snake (after the king cobra), their venom is more potent and faster acting than that of the cobra. You can be sure that both their size and venom make even lions wary of the black mamba.
There have been several documented instances of black mambas killing lions. These snakes are typically calm and only attack when they feel threatened, and likewise, lions are generally cautious around snakes. However, encounters still happen, and as shown in the video, it doesn’t always end well for the lions.
8. Hyenas
Hyenas have often been the subject of ridicule. Whether it’s due to their peculiar laugh, their famous roles voiced by Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin, their reputation as cowardly scavengers, or their, ahem, distinctive anatomy, hyenas are often dismissed as weak predators. But this punchline of a joke turns out to be quite a formidable force when they work together. They can, and do, kill lions more often than you'd expect.
It's true that in a one-on-one fight, the average lion would easily defeat the average hyena. It's also true that no lone hyena ever hunts a lion. However, lions and hyenas frequently clash over kills, often because lions try to steal the hyenas’ meals (which challenges the common misconception). In their tightly-knit groups, hyenas often overpower lions, especially spotted hyenas, the most aggressive species, which tend to ‘mob’ lions, using their numbers and relentless aggression. For lions, hyenas are far from a joke.
7. Rhinos
Rhinos are complex creatures. On one hand, they’re prime targets for poaching, often found lounging by watering holes, making them easy, stationary targets. On the other hand, they have no natural predators—not even lions—and all the top predators in their environments instinctively steer clear of them.
In addition to being roughly five times heavier than lions, rhinos are highly territorial. Unlike crocodiles, mambas, and hyenas, which tend to avoid lions, many rhinos will actively seek confrontation if their territory is threatened. A quick search for rhino-lion encounters will reveal just how devastating the charge of an angry rhino can be to a lion. It’s not a pretty sight.
6. Tigers
This is an unusual case, as there’s almost no overlap in the natural habitats of lions and tigers, except for three scenarios. First, their ranges did overlap significantly in the past, but human activities like overhunting and habitat destruction have dramatically diminished those overlaps. Second, there’s still a small overlap in India’s Gir forest, where both species coexist, though they tend to remain somewhat separate.
And then, of course, there’s the third scenario: captivity. For centuries, these two mighty cats have been kept as pets, trophies, attractions, and even gladiators. Throughout their long history together, they’ve often been pitted against one another in battles. While opinions differ, the general consensus is that tigers, being larger and stronger pound for pound than lions, are more likely to emerge victorious.
5. Elephants
It’s no surprise that elephants, the largest terrestrial animals on Earth, can overpower lions. With their sheer size, elephants have no natural enemies. Only the youngest or sickly elephants are vulnerable to predation, and even then, it’s not a meal most predators would actively pursue.
Indeed, there’s a wealth of footage showing confrontations between lions and elephants. Typically, these occur when lionesses, desperate and territorial, target baby elephants. But more often than not, these encounters end with lions injured and retreating. Interestingly, a few lion prides have taken to hunting elephants, but only when they have overwhelming numerical superiority—about 30 lions to every elephant.
4. African Buffalo
When people think of African wildlife, the African buffalo, or Cape buffalo, often doesn’t come to mind. It’s not nearly as famous as the rhino, elephant, hippo, or giraffe. But it’s massive, powerful, and incredibly aggressive. That’s why lions typically only approach buffalo in groups, and even then, the footage tells the story of just how tough buffalo can be.
You might be surprised to learn that African buffalo are actually heavier than rhinos on average, longer, and just as tall. In addition to their size, they are notorious for being territorial and highly aggressive, earning them the nickname ‘the widow-maker.’ According to the Canadian Museum of Nature: 'More big game hunters have been killed by African buffalo than by any other African animal… Other than humans, African buffalo have few natural predators and are capable of defending themselves against (and sometimes killing) lions.' After seeing a buffalo gore a lion and fend off four others, I’d say that's an understatement.
3. Mosquitos
It’s true: mosquitos may not be the most glamorous animal, nor are they the biggest, fastest, or strongest. But what they lack in charm, they more than make up for in deadliness. Mosquitos are responsible for killing more humans than any other animal, with estimates ranging from 750,000 to 1,000,000 deaths annually. This is not only the highest death toll, but it surpasses the next ten deadliest animals combined. And their lethality isn’t just confined to humans; nearly every animal is at risk.
With approximately 3,500 different species of mosquitoes, they have evolved to preferentially feed on nearly every land-dwelling animal imaginable. On top of that, mosquitoes have the ability to transmit numerous severe and even fatal diseases. These diseases can affect other animals as well. Essentially, whether you're a lion, a crow, a ferret, or a human—mosquitos are capable of killing you. They’ve certainly earned our hatred.
2. Humans
No, this isn’t some conservationist warning about the moral void that is poaching—but poaching is bad. So set aside 'poaching,' this is a different issue. Humans have traditionally hunted lions for thousands of years—not as poaching, but as part of cultural practices.
For example, the renowned Maasai people of Kenya have hunted lions as a rite of passage for generations. Lions were also hunted in ancient Egypt and Greece, where they once roamed more freely before modern overhunting drove them away (in Greece, lions are now entirely gone). Most historical accounts of human lion hunting involve similar methods: using bait, stealth, spears, and scent hounds.
1. Hippos
It’s tough to surpass the African buffalo. In fact, when it comes to large African animals, there’s only one that kills more people (and other creatures, not for food): the hippopotamus. A headline from a 2014 ABC News article reads: 'Hippopotamus attack kills 13 people, including 12 children, in boat near Niger’s capital Niamey.' The hippo capsized the boat and killed all 13 passengers, one by one.
Lions don’t fare much better. Hippos are regarded as the most aggressive creatures in Africa, and lions unlucky enough to target young calves often pay the price. Moreover, hippos are so aggressive that they’ll take the offensive, often forcing predators out of their territory with sheer brute strength, whether they’re hunting or not.
