Since elephants are the largest land mammals, a pride will require all of its lions to be ready to use their claws and teeth to try and knock one down. That these animals can ᴋɪʟʟ a lion is not surprising. Elephant calves are the primary target of lions, which is why these gregarious animals have evolved protective behaviors to save their young.

A male elephant’s tremendous weight can exceed 14,000 pounds, and herds will surround their young to protect them from lions. Elephants have been known to take up trunks weighing as much as 400 pounds and swing them like weapons against assailants, but they are also a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly menace to even a pack of lions thanks to their tusks and powerful hooves.

Even one big elephant may easily ᴋɪʟʟ a lion, and those who don’t may find themselves unable to survive due to their wounds. Elephants benefit from age in addition to weight. Researchers have shown that elder elephants have evolved more advanced strategies for ғɪɢʜting off lions and that they actively distribute this knowledge to protect their herd from dangers. Let’s watch a chase between elephants and lions as elephants protect their calves in the video below: