It is a rare occasion that two apex predators such as a lion and a grizzly bear would live in a common domain in the wild.
Also, these predators inhabit different continents on earth which means that they would never accidentally just bump into each other and then engage in a fight.
The majority of the lion population lives in Africa and a small portion of them lives in India. On the other hand, grizzly bears are found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
With this, we are only left to imagine what might happen if the two fierce predators got into a fight. Would the grizzly bear, a voracious predator, prevail? Or will the lion be able to protect its name as the king of the jungle?
Before examining what may happen in a fight between a grizzly bear and a lion, a few things need to be established and taken into account. The strongest kind from each corner should be the ones considered.
Among the lions, the males usually grow bigger and develop more muscles, thus considered stronger. This is the same with grizzly bears where the males are twice as big as the females.
As such, in this fight, the male counterparts who have reached their maximum potential will be considered.
Characteristics of a Grizzly Bear
In the animal kingdom, grizzly bears are among the most feared top predators mostly because of their enormous bodies, particularly when they are standing on their hind legs where they can reach heights of up to 9 feet.
They can still outgrow other creatures in terms of size even while they are standing on all fours, as they can grow to heights of up to five feet. Even with a body weight of up to 860 pounds, they can go at a top speed of about 35 miles per hour.
They mainly consume plants and fish but are also known to hunt for less aggressive animals such as elk calves. They do not usually bother other animals as long as they do not feel threatened, and their territory is not crossed. They respond aggressively when other animals invade their territory because they see it as a danger.
They are equipped to fight any trespassers that they see with their razor-sharp teeth and extremely keen claws that are capable of tearing through flesh. Also, they cannot be easily wounded because their loose skin is difficult to pierce and rip.
Characteristics of a Lion
In comparison, lions are much smaller than grizzly bears. Lions can only grow up to 3 to 4 feet long and can weigh up to 550 pounds.
Unlike bears, lions only eat meat and hunt other animals in their domain. Sometimes, they even prey upon other animals that are bigger than them such as a full-grown wildebeest. They are also known to prey upon other predators such as hyenas.
Though bears are bigger than them, lions are much faster than grizzly bears. Lions can run up to 50 miles per hour and can leap up to 36 feet. They can only do this for a brief amount of time, but even so, it can still give them the advantage in a fight. Particularly when they are up against a bigger opponent such as a grizzly bear that is comparatively less agile than they are.
Also, with their compact muscles and small bodies, lions have strong legs and jaws that they use for tugging and knocking down their prey. Like the bear’s skin, their belly skin is also loose as a form of protection.
Unlike grizzly bears, lions do not mind having company around them, even animals from other species. This is because their diet is a hundred percent meat and usually the animals around them become their lunch. Their genes are ingrained with the intent to kill. Because of this, it is very likely that a lion and a grizzly bear will battle until one of them dies.
How Would The Fight Between a Grizzly Bear And a Lion go?
Now that their respective characteristics are laid out, let us now dive into the different scenarios of how the fight between these two predators would go.
It is expected that at the start of the fight both animals would try to find an opening, especially the lion as it is a skilled hunter. But once either one of them starts to attack it will be a series of swiping and gnawing.
The lion could jump and aim for the bear’s neck. However, they cannot tug the giant bear to the ground. Also, bears cannot be easily wounded by the lion’s teeth and claws because of their loose skin. As such, it will take a series of jump attacks from the lion to severely injure the bear.
On the other hand, the bear will not stand idly by while the lion tries to attack it. With its 3-inch claws, the bear could deeply cut the lion’s flesh. The grizzly bear could also try to bite the lion’s neck, but this move will just be a hit and miss due to the lion’s thick hair around its neck.
What could be certain is that the grizzly bear will swipe the lion if it tries to jump it. If the bear’s paws land on the head of its opponent, the lion’s skull will be pierced through. In such a case, the fight will end with the grizzly bear being declared the victor.
The Grizzly Bear as The Ultimate Predator
The lion is undeniably strong and will surely put up a good fight. The grizzly bear may even be left with multiple injuries. However, the bear is still more likely to win in this fight because it has more advantages at its corner.
It is twice as big as the lion, and it could support its weight by standing up for a longer time compared to the lion. Moreover, its paws that are equipped with knife-like claws will surely wipe the life out of the lion where the grizzly bear’s claws could just easily break the lion’s skull.
Also in close combat, the lion’s speed is rendered useless. How about you, do you think that the lion should win in this fight? Please discuss in the comments below.