As the largest land-based animals alive today, elephants have few predators. Their size, strength and tightly knit social structures make adult elephants exceptionally difficult targets,
but there are circumstances where these intelligent creatures can be taken down by another animal. Here are the 10 that are most likely to bring an elephant to an early demise.
- Elephant guide: where do they live, what do they eat and how to identify them
- Muddy baby elephants, adorable tumbling penguins and otter cuddles: These cute baby animal videos will melt your heart
10 animals that can kill an elephant
Lions (Panthera leo)
Elephants are far from the top of a lion’s preferred menu, but the opportunistic cats may take a calf or a weakened subadult from a distracted herd. Female lions do most of the hunting and they often work together, so with the right timing and strategy, it’s not impossible for them to kill an elephant.
- Watch amazing close up footage of a lioness chancing her luck with wild elephants – who aren't impressed – ending in a hostile confrontation in African savannah
- It is one of the most iconic, revered – and feared -mammals in the world – with a powerful roar that can be heard for miles
Tigers (Panthera tigris)
In parts of India and Southeast Asia, tigers occasionally kill young Asian elephants. Adults are generally safe from the claws and teeth of this powerful orange cat, but calves that have been separated from the herd are susceptible to ambush – especially in dense forest.
Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus)
Crocs aren’t going to chase down an elephant, but they may well take their chances with a well-timed chomp during a water crossing. Young calves are the easiest to take for a crocodile who can grab hold of a leg and pull the elephant underwater, and their vulnerability increases when rivers are deep or fast-flowing.
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Hyenas are known for being scavengers, but they are capable predators in their own right. While they generally won’t target elephants, if a good opportunity to seize a calf arises, hyenas may work together to isolate and kill the helpless youngster.
- These 8 astonishing, brutal hyena photos reveal the raw chaos, power and intelligence of these top predators
- Could a hyena take on a lion? Nail-biting video shows close and fiercely-fought battle between these carnivorous predators
We named them one of the smartest killers in the animal kingdom
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)
African wild dogs are extremely strategic hunters, working together in coordinated packs to take down their prey. They usually ignore elephants, but like hyenas, they’ll sometimes take a chance when a small calf is separated from the herd.
- Remembering African Wild Dogs: Beautiful photographs of this wild canine, also known as painted dogs.
- It may look like a dog, but don’t be fooled – Africa’s most efficient killer, which can travel up to 72km/h, is neither a wolf nor a dog
- The 10 deadliest dogs on Earth: Discover the world's most ferocious and savage wild canine hunters
Leopards (Panthera pardus)
Leopards are solitary, highly skilled hunters. In most cases, they ambush their prey rather than chasing it down and elephants aren’t at great risk of a leopard attack. That said, there have been cases of leopards killing elephant calves, no doubt seized in a window of perfect timing.
- Leopard guide: where they live, what they eat - and why they don't have spots
- ‘I spent 4 days tracking a leopard in Mozambique. It led me to something terrifying.’
Hippos (Hippopotamus amphibious)
The stout hippopotamus certainly doesn’t hunt elephants, but they are extremely territorial and aggressive around water. Smaller elephants may be at risk of a deadly encounter should they overstay their welcome – a hippo’s mighty jaws and robust body can easily cause a fatal wound or drowning after impact.
Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae)
Rhinos are like hippos in that they aren’t predators, but they can be territorial (black rhinos in particular). An angry, charging rhino is capable of killing a young elephant, though these encounters are rare.
- Rhino guide: how to identify, where to see and why they're endangered
- Remembering Rhinos: stunning photographs of the iconic rhino
Other elephants (Elephantidae)
Whether African or Asian, elephants themselves can be dangerous to other elephants. Bulls in musth (the periodic hormonal state wherein male elephants experience a surge in testosterone) can be aggressive and injure or even kill smaller, weaker elephants in their search for a willing mate.
Humans (Homo sapiens)
Humans are the greatest threat to elephants. Trophy hunting, population culling, ivory poaching and conflict with farmers resulting in shooting deaths or deliberate poisoning have been the cause of countless elephant deaths. Humans also indirectly increase elephant mortality with habitat encroachment and competition for water during drought.
