Only the Gir Forest National Park in India still serves as a sanctuary for a small population of Asiatic lions. There were times when lions could be found from India to Greece, but humans decimated these populations step by step over the centuries. While in the past the vast majority of the African continent had lions roaming free, their current range is restricted to small, widely dispersed areas in southern and central Africa. Geographical Distribution of African LionsĪll the subspecies of African lions are separated by large territorial expanses that don’t have any lions living in them.

They live in the wide-open savannahs, where gorillas have never been known to go. Lions have never been seen entering jungles at all. Gorillas live deep in the jungles and never leave them. Lions and gorillas inhabit some of the same general areas of the world, but their habitats are much too different for them to cross paths. Do Gorillas and Lions Cross Paths in Nature? However, gorillas are more likely to use their limbs and body weight in fights, rather than their mouths. Their strong jaw muscles and massive necks make the production of such a bite force possible. Surprisingly enough, gorillas can bite with an incredible 1300 pounds per square inch of force. Lions have a bite force of around 650 pounds per square inch. Their teeth can reach 2 inches (5 centimeters) long.Ĭomparatively, a lion’s canine teeth are twice the length of the gorilla’s. The large canine teeth in gorillas are not designed to rip off flesh but instead to intimidate potential opponents.

Even though they don’t have claws, they use their hands to craft rocks and trees as weapons. They use them to inflict both blunt and cutting blows. Both gorillas and lions have their fair share of strengths and advantages that are unique to their species. The pairing of these two tough individuals doesn’t have an obvious outcome, unlike other animal rivalries. The other silverbacks likely won’t fight with him, as lions do in pride. His strength is just for show.Īnother problem might be that, when he gets in trouble, he depends solely on himself. In this fight, the gorilla’s biggest disadvantage is that the whole thing goes completely against its nature.Ī silverback gorilla (the name for adult males) is not a predator. However, if a gorilla notices the predator, it will start throwing objects and punches while making use of its enormous endurance to come out victorious. If it comes close enough and scores an accurate bite, the fight will probably end before it even begins. So, if a leopard can kill a gorilla, a lion can, too. Leopards are more agile than lions, but probably not stronger. On the other hand, large male gorillas are sometimes taken down by leopards. In this scenario, the gorilla is the obvious winner. It’s impossible for a group of lions to strategically attack in a forest, and a lion is vulnerable when fighting alone. The gorilla has an obvious advantage in a dense forest, while lions have an advantage in open fields such as the savannahs they call home. Who is the better fighter of these two African wild beasts? The odds are in the favor of the gorilla because of its intelligence and strength, but you can’t write the king of the jungle off just yet. Let’s get started! Who Wins in a Fight Between a Gorilla and a Lion?īoth gorillas and lions are very strong and very dangerous, yet only one can win. So if you want to learn all about who wins in a fight between a gorilla and a lion, then you’re in the right place. In dense forests, gorillas have an obvious advantage, while lions have an advantage in open fields like savannahs. Here’s who wins in a fight between a gorilla and a lion:Īlthough the odds are in the gorilla’s favor due to its intelligence and strength, you can’t dismiss the king of the jungle just yet.

Silverback gorilla vs.lion