“The King of the Savanna” Doesn’t Always Reign Supreme.
Lions and Giraffes are two critically important species found in the vast grasslands of Africa. As apex predators capable of hunting many other species, lions have long been regarded as the “king of the savanna” due to their exceptional hunting skills.
Giraffes – much like rhinoceroses, elephants, and hippopotamuses – hold a unique position in the food chain. Although they are herbivores, their large size makes it difficult for even predators like lions or the “gangsters of the African savanna,” hyenas, to hunt fully grown giraffes.
What is the reason for this?
About the “Giant” Giraffe
Famous for their long necks, these gentle “giants” are the tallest land animals in the world. An adult male can reach a height of about 5.5 meters – more than three times the height of an average adult human.
This towering height allows giraffes to spot predators like lions and hyenas from afar. Along with their excellent eyesight, giraffes can detect hungry beasts from a distance and quickly gather with their herd for defense.
Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world.
Not only are they tall, but giraffes also have an impressive body weight. Their average weight can range from 700 to 1000 kg, with adult males potentially weighing up to 1.4 tons. They spend most of their day eating and can consume up to 45 kg of leaves and branches daily, feeding on foliage from over 100 different species of trees and shrubs in Africa. However, their favorite foods are acacia trees, grasses, and fruits.
According to scientists, despite being herbivores, giraffes are incredibly strong and fast. A precise kick from them can crush the skull of a hunting lion, while a running giraffe can reach speeds of over 55 km/h (15 meters/second).
As mentioned, giraffes live in herds. A herd can consist of 3 to 10 individuals, including both males and females of all ages.
About the “King of the Savanna,” the Lion
As the “king of the savanna,” lions possess impressive physical attributes and the advantage of living in groups to take down many species across Africa.
A male African lion can weigh between 150 kg and 250 kg. To support their calorie-intensive activities such as sprinting during hunts, lions can consume up to 40 kg of meat in a single meal.
Lions can run at speeds of 81 km/h (22 m/s) when hunting.
A terrifying characteristic of this “hunter” is their speed. Lions can sprint at speeds of 81 km/h (22 m/s) when pursuing prey. This speed allows them to easily chase or ambush their target, using their powerful forelimbs to strike their victims, combined with a bite force ranging from 650 to 1000 PSI to clamp down on the prey’s throat. All this speed display occurs over just a few minutes.
As intelligent predators, lions often choose to hunt at dusk or nighttime (in addition to hunting in groups during the day) to use darkness to ambush their prey more effectively.
Typically, lions prefer to hunt herbivores rather than other carnivores. The reason is that the meat of herbivores is softer and fresher compared to that of carnivores. Unless extreme situations arise, such as food scarcity or competition with other carnivores, they rarely hunt carnivorous animals like hyenas.
Thus, herbivores like giraffes – weighing up to tons – would be a feast for lions. However, lions rarely succeed in hunting this “giant.” Why is that?
Giraffes Don’t Sit Still and Wait to Die
Generally, herbivores have four strategies for safer survival, gradually evolving characteristics that differ significantly from those of carnivores.
- First, they develop into large and strong creatures like elephants and hippopotamuses…
- Second, they evolve to have stronger reproductive capabilities, like wild rabbits and mice. Although not large, they can quickly adapt to environmental changes due to their robust reproductive abilities and can quickly replenish lost populations due to predators.
- Third, they aim for alertness, agility, and endurance, such as antelopes and wildebeests. They have a wider field of vision, sharper hearing, and better stamina. They can not only run very fast but can also maintain speed over long distances.
- Fourth, their appearance blends into nature, enabling them to camouflage and avoid the keen eyes of predators.
Surprisingly, giraffes possess all four of these strategic features. They are tall and strong, agile, have excellent vision, and can camouflage among tall trees.
For instance, when a giraffe starts running, its massive body weight can create significant kinetic energy. If a lion gets too close to a running giraffe, the immense energy can cause the lion to fall to the ground in a short time. Combined with a kick from the giraffe’s powerful front legs, this can cause severe fractures and damage to the internal organs of the “king of the savanna.”
Giraffes kick lions.
Additionally, the legs of giraffes can be as long as 2 meters. This length makes the lion’s tactic of biting down on the prey’s throat ineffective, as a male lion only reaches about 1.2 meters at the shoulder.
The lion’s tactic of biting down on the prey’s throat fails against giraffes.
Another fascinating feature of giraffes is that their unique spots are distinctive to each individual, similar to human fingerprints. These irregular patches are thought to be a result of evolutionary camouflage, helping them blend into the dappled light under the trees in their grassland habitat.
Survival in the wild has never been easy for any species on Earth. Whether lions or giraffes, all have their vulnerabilities.
There are still instances where lions manage to prey on giraffes.
There are indeed cases where lions successfully hunt giraffes. These may be young giraffes, those that stray from the herd, or those that are weak. Conversely, there are also instances where lions are killed right under the massive feet of giraffes. This illustrates how vibrant and fascinating the natural world can be.
