Dear lions, this is why you shouldn’t attack rhinos
If you’re tired of watching big cats get the upper hand, fear not. This video plays out quite differently than you might expect. Here’s a preview:
Oh how the mighty have fallen…
On a recent trip through Namibia’s Etosha National Park, tourists happened upon a pregnant black rhino who’d fallen into a muddy watering hole. The large female was struggling to get out of the pit, slipping under her massive weight.
It didn’t take long for another set of onlookers – a group of lions – to jump at the opportunity. The cats had the high ground, but the rhino? She had the weapon.
Using the water as a barrier, the rhino waited for an opportune moment to make her escape, and then managed to stave off the attack by performing swift, tight circles. She might have taken some hits along the way, but rhino skin is strong … really strong. The tough tissue is typically between 1-5 centimetres thick, and is made of an ultra-dense fibre. Combine that with the animal’s immense power and 35mph top running speed, and it becomes clear that this attack was doomed from the get-go.
Lions might have the royal reputation, but rhinos are among the true rulers of the bush. A battle between one of these horned giants and any other beast (aside from humans, sadly) just isn’t much of a battle at all.