Lions occasionally prey on elephants, but it is an extremely rare occurrence. This seldom happens, and only under very specific circumstances.
The Rarity of Elephant Predation
Lion predation on elephants is uncommon due to significant challenges. Adult elephants are the largest land mammals, with males reaching up to 13 feet tall and weighing over 12,000 pounds. In contrast, male lions typically weigh around 550 pounds and stand about 4 feet tall at the shoulder. This immense size difference makes a healthy adult elephant a formidable opponent.
Elephant herds also employ effective defense strategies. When threatened, elephants often form a protective circle around their vulnerable members, such as calves, with adults facing outward. They can charge at attackers, using their tusks and powerful trunks to inflict damage, and may even stomp on predators. The risk of injury or death for a lion attempting such a dangerous hunt is very high, making it an inefficient use of energy compared to hunting more typical prey. Lions primarily hunt medium-sized to large ungulates like wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo, generally avoiding adult elephants unless other food sources are scarce.
Circumstances of Elephant Predation
Lion predation on elephants occurs under specific, rare conditions. Lions usually target vulnerable individuals, such as calves, very old elephants, or those that are sick, injured, or isolated from their herd. Healthy, adult elephants are almost never the primary target. If a calf strays too far from the protective herd, it becomes an easier target for predators.
Successful hunts often require exceptionally large and coordinated lion prides. In Botswana’s Chobe National Park, prides exceeding 27 lions have been observed successfully hunting elephants, often targeting groups of fewer than five individuals. These large prides may employ specific ambush tactics, sometimes isolating an elephant from its group before attacking.
Environmental factors also play a role. Drought conditions, which can lead to weaker elephants or reduced availability of typical prey, may force lions to take greater risks. The Savuti lions in Chobe National Park became known for hunting elephants during dry seasons when other herbivores migrated away. Most successful elephant hunts occur at night, as elephants have poorer night vision, giving nocturnal lions an advantage.