Africa is home to the lion and the white rhino, two well-known and loved animals. These two animals usually keep out of each other’s way, but what would be the outcome if we were to pit them against each other? In a lion vs white rhino, who would win in a fight? Let us compare these two animals.
Lion vs White Rhino: Fact Sheet
| Lion | White Rhino | |
| Size | Weight 185 – 225 kg Length 1.8 – 2 m Height 90 – 120 cm | Weight 2300 – 3600 kg Length 3.7 – 4 m Height 1.7 – 1.86 m |
| Speed | 50 mph | 25 – 30 mph |
| Attack | bite force 650 psi canine teeth 10 cm claws 4 cm | charge |
| Defence | pride | size, horns |
| Special Abilities | night vision | great hearing & sense of smell |
| Habitat | South African Savanna | South African Savanna |
| Diet | Carnivore | Herbivore |
| Lifespan | 8 – 16 years | 40 – 50 years |
| Predators | hyenas, humans | humans |
Lion vs White Rhino: Size
An adult African lion weighs 185 – 225 kg (400 – 500lb). They are the second largest cat in the world after the Siberian tiger. They have a body length of 1.8 – 2 m (5.9 – 6.5 ft), with the tail being 82 – 93 cm (32 – 36 in) and measures 90 – 120 cm (35 – 47 in) at the shoulder.
The white rhino is the second largest animal in Africa after the elephant weighing 2300 – 3600 (5000 – 8000 lb). They have a height of 1.7 – 1.8 m (5.5 – 5.9 ft) at the shoulder and a total body length of 3.7 – 4 m (12-13 ft).
The white rhino wins on size.
Lion vs White Rhino: Speed
A lion can reach a top speed of 50 mph (80 kph) but only do this for a short time. A white rhino can run at 25 – 30 mph (40 – 48 kph).
The lion wins on speed.
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Lion vs White Rhino: Attack
Lions live and hunt in family groups called a pride with a single pride containing 2 – 40 lions with 3 – 4 males and 12 females, and they’re young. Male lions don’t often join the hunt. They leave it to the females, only joining when food is scarce.
The lionesses hunt as a team, with the older, more experienced females leading the hunt. A lioness looks to bite down on her prey’s neck to suffocate it, with the other lionesses helping to pin the animal down.
A lion’s jaws are powerful enough to deliver a bite force of 650 psi, with their canine teeth being 10 cm (4 in) long and claws 4 cm (1.5 in) long.
A white rhino will attack when threatened by charging at its attacker, trying to inflict as much damage as possible with its horns.
It’s a draw between the lion and rhino for attacking power.
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Lion vs White Rhino: Defence
One lion alone by itself is an easy target for hyenas and buffalos, so a lion’s best form of defence is to stay within its pride. There is safety in numbers. If a lion finds itself cornered, it will use its teeth and claws to defend itself.
A rhino’s ultimate defence against most predators is its size, as an adult rhino is just too big a prey for any of Africa’s predators to take down. And of course, it also has two massive horns to defend itself, just in case predators get too close.
The rhino wins on defence.
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Lion vs White Rhino: Special Abilities
Lions, like all cats, have excellent night vision, seeing six times better than humans at night. Lions are the only big cat to live and hunt in a group. White rhinos have developed a great sense of smell and hearing to combat their terrible eyesight.
The lion wins the special abilities round.
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Lion vs White Rhino: Diet
Lions are carnivores and mainly eat zebras, wildebeests, antelopes and buffalos but have also been seen killing larger prey like elephants and giraffes if they are sick or injured. White rhinos are herbivores that graze on grass like cattle, with a square upper lip adapted especially for grazing.
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Lion vs White Rhino Who Would We In A Fight?
The white rhino would always win in a one-on-one fight with an adult male lion. The lion does not have the size and strength to match the rhino. The lion would end up gored or seriously injured by the rhino’s horns.
It would take an entire pride working together to take down a rhino. Even then, it would be a challenge.
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