The law of nature does not allow second chance which means that only those who have the capability to adapt quickly and survive the dangers can live. Hence, there are some animals that have claimed their supremacy over other animals and have placed themselves on top of the food chain pyramid. Wild animals like tigers, lions, bears, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs work together to find their preys and they are instantly in action when they find one because they cannot afford to let their meal escape particularly when they are hungry and looking for food that would satisfy their itching hunger.
Predators are not only the land but also in air and water. Birds like eagles and hawks have a very sharp eye sight and a pair of razor sharp claws that make sure that they grasp their prey firmly while they are in action and their powerful wings allow them to move swiftly in the air without making any noise that would alert their targets. Similarly, the same principle of nature works under the sea as well where giant fishes like whales, sharks and dolphins work in a systematic way to hunt down their meals quickly so that there is no chance for their meals to escape. In other words, predation is the law of nature where one animal survives on another and this food chain works like a cycle where even hunters can become the hunted. However, there are some top predators that have dominated the food chain with their lightning fast moves and top sensing abilities. Let’s have a look at the three greatest African predators and what makes them so powerful and dangerous.
1. African Lion
You simply cannot miss out this huge cat when it comes to top predators in Africa. This wild cat is the member of Felidae and has an incredible weight of more than 250 kilos which means it is the second largest living cat in the world. The African lions are normally found in Sub-Saharan Africa and in some parts of North Africa as well. Though, there were many African lions in North Africa they have now disappeared because of the civilization that has happened in that area. Lions have ruled the earth for more than ten thousand years and it is one of the most common animals that you can find on almost all continents on the planet. African lions are always on the top of the food chain because they are very aggressive and hunt down their prey at any cost when they are hungry. Many lions might live a little longer if they are rarely injured during a fight but most of the African lions have to battle it out with other animals to prove their muscle power and dominance and they might get injured during such fights which reduce their life longevity. Hence, African lions have a life span of around ten to fourteen years where they try to hunt down their prey even if they are a distance. African lions are usually found in groups and they will coordinate their attacks intelligently so that there is no escape route for their target. They can achieve the running speed of around 80 kmph or 50 mph in just few seconds in order to catch their prey. They have powerful sharp teeth that they use to strangulate their victims, but if the prey is small than they normally use their paws to kill the hunt.
2. Spotted Hyena
This not so deadly looking mammal takes the second spot on the top predators in Africa. Spotted Hyenas may not look so deadly but they are very aggressive and can even tear off a zebra into pieces when they are hungry and starving for a hearty meal. Spotted Hyenas look like undernourished scavengers but they are a member of Hyaenidae and found everywhere in Africa. They can be found from Sahara region to Congo Basin and usually live in clans that are made up of 80 to 100 hyenas. One of the reasons why they are so deadly is their intelligence. Unlike other animals, spotted hyenas are very intelligent and they can plan their killings in no time. Since they are always in a group they are very good at communicating with each other which means that they give no room for the target to escape as they cover all sides perfectly. Spotted hyenas are only 50 to 100 kilos in weight but they have sharp eyes that could spot their prey from a long distance. They are not even the fastest predators on earth but they can chase their prey at 60 kmph until the prey gets tired and give up. Spotted hyenas do not strangulate their prey like lions because they are very impatient and therefore they catch the prey and instantly tear it apart so that their target is dead within seconds.
3. African Wild Dog
This medium sized killing animal has quickly gained its popularity all over the Africa. The African Wild Dog is one of the top predators that you will find in Africa. It is also called as the Painted Hunting Dog and African Hunting Dog because of its looks. These animals look very much like a dog but they are seriously dangerous because they have the highest Bite Force Quotient found in any mammal on earth. They are very light in weight and therefore their body weight is around 17-36 kilos which makes them a lightning fast killing machine. These hunting dogs are usually found in central and southern Africa and they normally keep themselves in packs which mean that they work collectively when they are hunting which keeps them on top of the food chain. They are very aggressive and will not give up until they kill their target which is why their success ratio is more than 80 percent. However, they are very social and will provide and feed other members of the clan who are injured, sick and incapable of hunting down for themselves.
