On the African Continent, Is It the Lion or the Hyena That's Afraid?
It is said that on the African savanna, despite lions being dubbed the 'king of Africa,' they are actually afraid of hyenas. Generally, a group of three female hyenas weighs the same as a mature female lion. Therefore, when a female lion catches prey, if a male lion is not present and only female hyenas are present, six hyenas can easily take away their food. Female lions are also very intelligent, or cats possess this characteristic – they tend to avoid strong forces and seek weak ones. When faced with a sudden attack by six hyenas, female lions will voluntarily give up their food to preserve themselves. This is based on the fact that lions are intelligent animals, they understand the strength of their opponents. Lions and hyenas have been competing for food and territory for centuries, so they know each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Generally, two female lions versus six hyenas is uncertain who wins or loses. Personally, I tend to think that two female lions can defeat six hyenas, but lions may also sustain relatively serious injuries, because hyenas have more people and the bite force is the strongest among African mammals, reaching an astonishing 450 kilograms. Why don't lions fight? I mentioned earlier that lions are intelligent animals, they know how to assess the strength of their opponents. Lions and hyenas have been competing for food and territory for centuries, so they know each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Lions and hyenas are all pack animals. In general, a single female lion will never provoke a hyena pack. Three hyenas can bully a female lion. However, hyenas are not reckless. When they don't have enough numbers and strength, they won't launch a preemptive attack on lions. Therefore, some people say that hyenas are afraid of lions, because the older brother fears the younger brother. Although hyenas have a stronger bite force than lions, observations show that hyenas' crushing bone force comes mainly from molars, while they mainly use canines in combat. Lions will not be stupid to send their feet into the hyena's large incisors, and the opening angle of the mouth also determines the fighting power. It's common for hyenas to kill lions with their powerful teeth.
So, is the second son of the lion necessarily afraid of the lion? Actually, hyenas are afraid of lions when there is a male lion present. A lion pride without a male lion in command is not feared by a hyena pack. Even if the hyena pack is not as strong as this lion pride, they won't attack when the male lion is not present, but they will walk boldly in front of the female lion. When there is a male lion present, the deterrent effect is greatly enhanced, and even a large hyena pack will not approach, because the male lion has the ability to easily take the head of a hyena leader in the pack. Hyenas have to be afraid.
Therefore, it is said that lions and hyenas are mutually respected, and there is no saying who is necessarily afraid of whom. Lions and hyenas have been enemies on the savanna for millions of years, they know each other's weaknesses and strengths, and they compete for food and territory in life, so they are mutually respectful in life.
