Although ostriches have excellent self-defense abilities, why do lions, the top predators on the African savannah, rarely prey on ostriches?
In our perception, African buffalo are always considered the primary prey of lions. Despite being herbivores, these animals are formidable fighters. An adult African buffalo typically measures between 2.1 to 3.4 meters in length, stands around 1.5 meters tall on average, and weighs between 500 to 800 kilograms.
In the lion’s diet, African buffalo account for up to 65%, while giraffes and zebras make up 21%, warthogs and wildebeest account for 11%, other animals make up 3%, and ostriches account for less than 1%. Despite the physical characteristics of African ostriches, which measure approximately 180 to 300 cm in length, stand 240 to 280 cm tall, and weigh between 130 to 150 kg, with an average lifespan of 60 years, they have minimal representation in the lion’s diet.
Compared to other prey such as zebras, wildebeests, and deer, ostriches provide significantly less meat. The majority of an ostrich’s body comprises bones, neck, and feathers, making hunting them energetically inefficient for lions.
1. Ostriches are highly vigilant
Despite losing the ability to fly due to their large size during evolution, ostriches still belong to the class of birds. The vigilance observed in bird species such as sparrows, pigeons, eagles, and other common birds around us is extremely high.
Therefore, ostriches exhibit much higher vigilance compared to African buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests. Even while drinking water, there are ostriches specialized in guard duty.
The terrain of the African savannah is flat, and African ostriches have an average height of 2.5 meters. With such height, an ostrich can easily have a wide field of vision, enabling them to easily spot lions and flee before being targeted by them.
Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal, with a diameter of up to 5 cm, allowing them to observe a wide range of surroundings. Their eyes are positioned high on their heads, enabling them to see enemies from a distance, even when they are stooped down to forage. Additionally, they have highly sensitive hearing, capable of detecting sounds from kilometers away. This helps them detect the footsteps of hidden predators and timely warn the herd.
2. Movement Speed and Escaping Ability
The evolution of species in nature is an ongoing process. Despite ostriches losing the ability to fly and often weighing up to 150 kg, their two long legs and slender neck make up two-thirds of their body.
Each stride of an adult ostrich can span 3 to 5 meters, and they can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h. Imagine driving a car and accelerating to 70 km/h; this will give you an idea of how fast an ostrich can run.
On the other hand, lions can run up to 80 km/h, indicating that they might be faster than ostriches. However, in reality, lions do not have an advantage in this race. While lions can move at speeds of up to 80 km/h, their large size and limited stamina (their hearts are relatively small compared to their entire body) mean they can only maintain this speed for about 3 minutes. Ostriches, on the other hand, can sustain speeds of 70 km/h for over 5 minutes, with some individuals even exceeding 10 minutes. Therefore, it’s clear that chasing an ostrich for a lion is an incredibly challenging task.
3. Size and Self-Defense Capability
When lions hunt, even if they target buffaloes, they generally prioritize older or younger individuals because their reactions are relatively slow, which is completely different from ostriches.
The reason they dare not confront a mature buffalo is that apex predators seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. If a lion is gored or pierced by a mature buffalo, it is highly likely that the lion will face a slow and painful death.
Ostriches also have the ability to counterattack lions with significant damage. Ostriches can kick very powerfully with both legs. Their kicking force is strong enough to break ribs or even kill a wolf. Additionally, this animal has sharp claws on both legs, up to 7 cm long. These claws can cause serious injuries, even death to a lion if attacked on the eyes or neck.
Chasing ostriches poses significant risks for lions. Ostriches possess two sharp, dagger-like claws on each foot, capable of inflicting serious wounds, even death, upon attackers if struck at vulnerable points. Additionally, lions may exhaust themselves during the pursuit.
