Often, cheetahs will team up when hunting ostriches. As the world’s fastest land animal, they have no problem chasing down their prey.įinishing it off is trickier, since they’re far less powerful than the ‘true’ big cats. Leopards, spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, and even Nile crocodiles have all been known to kill ostriches.Ĭheetahs are another of the ostrich’s occasional predators. Lions aren’t the only threat to the world’s largest bird. Their foes often retreat, in search of an easier meal. They’ll make themselves look as large as possible, fluffing up their feathers and stretching out their wings. Peeved ostrich parents will aggressively defend their offspring. Running or hiding are often the smart choices, but not with chicks to protect. Jokes aside, ostriches are famed for their feisty attitude. It takes guts to stand up to large predators, so it’s a good job ostriches have three stomachs. When trying to avoid being seen, ostriches sit down with their necks on the ground out in front of them.Īfter all, why run if you don’t need to? Stand and fight Those long necks make ostriches stand out, which isn’t ideal when you’re surrounded by predators.
This myth can probably be explained by the bird’s behaviour. We’ve all heard the tale of ostriches burying their heads in the sand. These life-and-death scenarios play out every day in Africa. Otherwise, the ostrich’s superior stamina would allow it to escape. If a lioness was stalking an ostrich, it would have to get very close before the chase began. A skilled hunter has a chance of catching the ostrich off guard. Lionesses are stealthier than the maned males, making them adept ambush predators. Ostriches need to stay on their guard, however. However, they can only maintain this speed for very short periods. Lions are great short-distance sprinters, with a top speed of over 80 km/h (50 mph). They can sprint at 70 km/h (43 mph) but are only slightly slower over long distances. Those long legs make ostriches some of the speedsters of the savanna. Luckily for the ostrich, it can escape most of the time. Many wild animals will fight back only as a last resort if they can’t escape. The best way to win a fight is to avoid it in the first place. Are they wary of injury, too slow to catch them, or perhaps both? Can an Ostrich Outrun a Lion?
While there’s evidence of lions preying on ostriches, it’s not common. It’s not unusual for lions to suffer fatal wounds when hunting large, powerful prey. Things don’t always go the predator’s way, though. Lions take down zebra, buffalo, and even the occasional elephant, so size alone won’t save the ostrich. The ostrich’s long, thin neck would be particularly vulnerable if a lion got hold of it. Let’s flip the original question: can a lion kill an ostrich?Īfrica’s largest cat kills by breaking its prey’s neck or via suffocation. An imposing sight, especially for four-legged foes.Īn adult ostrich’s size makes it too big for many African predators, yet some see them as a meal. When they’re not burying their heads in the sand (more on that later), large male ostriches stand up to 2.8 m tall.
So, it’s plausible that an animal that size could be a threat. Females average around 100 kg and males 115 kg, with large males weighing 145 kg.Įxceptional specimens have exceeded 155 kg – about the weight of an average lioness. Then, you’ll understand why this is one formidable, feathered foe.Įven with those ‘mean feet’, it’s no mean feat to kill a large, apex predator like a lion.Ĭommon ostriches are the world’s largest birds. Perhaps you need to direct your gaze downwards, to see what’s afoot. You’d think lions would be licking their lips at this birdy breakfast buffet. Ostriches are large, flightless birds, surrounded by the savanna’s deadliest predators.
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