The resilience of the zebra amazes us as it escapes the clutches of a hungry lion.
A short video captures the dramatic encounter between a lion and a zebra. In the clip, the zebra is seen grazing peacefully when suddenly, a lion stealthily approaches without being noticed.
At the decisive moment, the lion pounces onto the zebra’s back, biting its neck and using its claws to pin the poor animal to the ground.
However, the zebra demonstrates incredible strength and resilience, as it not only refuses to fall but also repeatedly leaps in an attempt to shake off its attacker.
When this strategy fails, the zebra bolts forward, dragging the lion that is still clinging to its neck.
In a moment of panic, the zebra unexpectedly trips over the lion and tumbles to the ground.
It seemed that this would be the end for the brave zebra, unable to maintain its footing, but fortunately, the lion was also exhausted.
In a careless moment, the lion allows the zebra to break free, quickly seizing the opportunity to escape just in time.
The lion hurriedly tries to correct its mistake by attempting to grab the prey again. However, once the zebra reaches a sufficient speed, it becomes too difficult for the lion to catch up.
The lion hurriedly tries to grab the prey.
In the wild, zebras can reach speeds of up to 68 km/h, while lions can only reach 57 km/h. However, when it comes to maximum acceleration, zebras lag significantly at just 18 km/h compared to 34 km/h for lions.
Therefore, lions often have the advantage in short sprints or when they first approach their prey. However, if the chase prolongs, zebras will gain the upper hand due to their speed and endurance.
According to analysis, a lion has about 6 seconds to surprise a zebra from the moment it begins its attack. During this time, the lion will attempt to leap onto the zebra’s back or pounce from behind, aiming to bring it down.
However, a 2018 study showed that zebras escape from lions not just through sheer speed, but by continuously changing direction, especially when the predator is very close.
Additionally, zebras possess a “secret weapon,” which is a powerful kick with their hind legs that can shatter the jaw of a predator if they foolishly stand within range.
