6 Major Enemies Of Lions (Complete List!)

Lions are top predators, and healthy adults have few natural enemies. That doesn't mean they live without conflict.

So, who do lions fight? Hyenas, crocodiles, wild dogs, and other big cats are among the lion’s main enemies in the wild. Most fights are over food and territory, and cubs are the most vulnerable.

We'll name the lion's main rivals and explain how they clash in the wild.

What Animals Do Lions Compete With?

Hyenas

Spotted hyenas are the lion's biggest rival. They are not just scavengers: the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance fact sheet says they mainly hunt medium to large hoofed animals and scavenge at times.

Lions and hyenas hunt the same prey, so they steal kills from each other. The Smithsonian's National Zoo notes that hyenas can take lions' kills and lions also steal from hyenas.

Hyenas live in large clans. A big group can drive lions off a carcass, especially when no adult male lion is present.

Lions kill hyenas often. The San Diego Zoo fact sheet lists lions as a common cause of hyena deaths.

Hyenas will kill lion cubs and sometimes lone, weak or old lions. Lionesses hide young cubs in dens and guard them closely.

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Leopards

Leopards and lions compete for the same prey, which makes leopards a lion rival. Lions are much larger and will kill leopards when they get the chance.

Leopards avoid lions by hunting alone, often at night, and by hauling their kills into trees. Lions can climb, but they struggle to follow a leopard into high branches.

Lion cubs left alone are at some danger from leopards, which may kill them.

Cheetahs

Lions kill cheetahs, and especially cheetah cubs, to remove competition. Cheetahs are much lighter than lions and can't defend a kill against them.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. They rely on speed and on hunting during the day, when lions are often resting, to avoid conflict.

The threat runs mostly one way: lions are a major danger to cheetahs, not the other way around.

Crocodiles

Nile crocodiles and lions share rivers and water holes, and they sometimes clash. Large crocodiles can grab and kill a lion that is drinking or crossing a river.

Crocodiles are not picky about what they eat. They ambush almost any animal that comes to the water, including antelopes, birds and, occasionally, big cats.

On land, the advantage shifts. Lions have been seen attacking and killing crocodiles that stray from the water, and a group of lions has a better chance than one.

In the water, a large crocodile has the upper hand, which is why lions drink cautiously.

African Wild Dogs

African wild dogs, also called painted dogs, are skilled pack hunters, not scavengers. They compete with lions for prey such as impala.

Lions are one of the main threats to wild dogs. Lions kill adult dogs and pups and steal their kills.

So, African wild dogs usually avoid lions and leave an area when lions move in.

It is a myth that wild dogs often hunt and kill lion cubs. A pack could kill an unguarded cub, but the danger usually runs the other way.

What Are Lions Scared of?

Lions are wary of animals much bigger than they are: elephants, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo and hippos. A kick or a charge from any of them can kill or cripple a lion.

Lions usually avoid adult elephants. In a few areas, large prides have learned to hunt young elephants, but this is rare.

Giraffes are the tallest mammals in the world. A kick from an adult giraffe can kill a lion, so lions target young or sick giraffes and usually hunt them as a group.

Adult rhinos and hippos are too big and dangerous for lions to hunt in most cases. Lions sometimes take their young.

What Is The Lion’s Worst Enemy?

Among animals, spotted hyenas are the lion's main rival. They compete for the same prey, steal kills and kill cubs, and lions kill hyenas in return.

The bigger threat to lions overall is people. The Smithsonian's National Zoo lists habitat loss, poisoning, hunting and disease among the main threats, and estimates about 20,000 lions remain in the wild.

Are Lions And Tigers Enemies?

Lions and tigers don't meet in the wild today. African lions live in Africa, and the only wild Asian lions live in India's Gir Forest, where there are no tigers.

Both are big, territorial predators, so they would likely compete if they shared a range. Tigers are usually larger, while lions have the advantage of living in prides.

What Animals Can Kill A Lion?

Lions can be killed by crocodiles, hyena clans, elephants, buffalo, hippos and giraffes, and by other lions. Fights between rival male lions are a leading cause of injury and death.

Hyenas succeed through numbers. The bigger animals can kill a lion with a single kick, charge or bite.

Conclusion

In the wild, lions compete most with hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and crocodiles. Most of these clashes are over food and territory.

Even top predators lose many young: the Smithsonian notes that up to 80% of lion cubs die in their first two years.

Sources

• Lion, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
• Spotted Hyena Fact Sheet, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library