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AnimalsTranscript
00:00 In the animal kingdom, it is survival of the fittest and while it might appear that the
00:06 top predators rule the world, those down the food chain have some fascinating defense skills.
00:13 Predators often have to work twice as hard for their daily meal.
00:16 In today's video, we will be looking at the top 10 prey who have mastered the art of self-defense
00:24 and that will surely give predators a run for their money.
00:28 10.
00:29 Buffalo
00:30 Buffaloes are one of the lions' favorite prey.
00:34 Because of their stocky and meaty bodies, they are considered a hugely rewarding prospect
00:39 for lions.
00:40 Catching them, however, is quite a tall order.
00:44 Buffaloes are social animals that will often work together in groups to defend themselves.
00:51 When they work together as a team, a lion stands no chance.
00:56 And if they manage to corner a lion, they can be extremely brutal in payback.
01:02 The only way a lion can catch a buffalo is when it singles one out of the pack.
01:08 And even then, it still takes two or three lions to bring one buffalo down and they are
01:15 not always successful.
01:18 Buffaloes are very powerful and equipped with long horns.
01:22 They are capable of tossing predators high up in the air or even fatally stabbing predators
01:28 with those powerful horns.
01:31 9.
01:32 Warthog
01:34 Warthogs look like they could be ferocious beasts but in reality, these small wild animals
01:41 do not like confrontation.
01:44 When pumped with adrenaline in the face of danger, the warthog will usually take flight
01:50 rather than stand and fight.
01:53 Always searching for the safer option and taking preventative measures, warthogs are
01:58 known to burrow holes underground to hide from predators.
02:04 If their safe spaces are discovered, they take to their heels pretty quickly.
02:10 The exception, however, is when a nursing mother is threatened.
02:15 This is when the inner confidence of the warthog shows its face.
02:21 Nursing mother warthogs will defend their babies with everything they have, sometimes
02:27 even their very lives.
02:30 Mother warthogs can inflict serious injuries on predators or even kill them.
02:38 8.
02:40 Giraffe
02:41 The giraffe is the tallest mammal on the planet.
02:45 This feature alone makes them very difficult prey.
02:49 Top predators hardly bother to take adult giraffes down except if they are weak or sickly.
02:57 Younger isolated giraffes are easier prey but even those have a very potent defense
03:04 mechanism in their long, powerful legs.
03:09 One well-aimed blow from one of those legs can knock out a healthy lion instantly.
03:15 7.
03:17 Zebra
03:18 Yes, you might have watched a determined lion chase down a zebra on National Geography but
03:25 zebras are usually hard targets for lions.
03:30 Full-bodied, healthy zebras are very difficult to pin down.
03:34 Some of their defense mechanisms include their ability to inflict pretty strong bites and
03:40 kicks on their predators.
03:43 A single powerful kick from the strong hind legs can be fatal.
03:48 To take down a healthy adult zebra, predators often have to work together as a team.
03:55 Even then, it is still not easy.
04:00 Zebras are social animals so they also work together in large groups.
04:06 6.
04:07 Gazelle
04:08 Super fast and super agile, the gazelle is one of the most rapid animals in the wild.
04:16 Their lightning speeds help them evade the fastest predators.
04:21 To help their speed, gazelles are sharp and very observant.
04:25 The slightest hint of danger and they will take off with frightening speeds.
04:31 Predators such as cheetahs have to tactically isolate and target gazelles and pounce on
04:37 them quickly and suddenly.
04:41 That being said, capturing the gazelle one-on-one does not guarantee success for the predator.
04:48 In such a scenario, the gazelle will turn into its most pointed defense feature, its
04:54 long sharp horns.
04:57 Any lack of concentration from the predator and they could be stabbed by the sharp horns
05:02 of the gazelle causing serious or even fatal injury.
05:07 5.
05:09 Wildebeest
05:10 Wildebeest are one of the favorite prey of lions and leopards.
05:15 Yet, as you will expect, they are not by any means easy prey.
05:20 Seriously, wildebeest are social animals and so they move in large herds.
05:27 In fact, they work together with zebras to form a formidable defense coalition.
05:34 Predators are often left with the only option of identifying and isolating the younger or
05:40 weaker and sickly wildebeest for capture.
05:44 Wildebeest are equipped with very little strong and sharp horns which they can use to fatally
05:50 harm predators as they charge at them.
05:54 If a group of wildebeest goes up against a group of lions, the odds are stacked against
05:59 the lions.
06:00 In such a case, the lions will barely escape with their lives if they do at all as these
06:07 wildebeest can be unforgiving.
06:11 4.
06:12 Elephant
06:14 The sheer size of the elephant is all the defense mechanism it needs.
06:19 In fact, adult elephants are not considered prey by predators except when they are incredibly
06:26 desperate and have no other option.
06:30 Elephants are equipped with long and sharp tusks that can inflict fatal damage on any
06:35 predator and you also cannot forget their powerful feet.
06:40 It's hard to imagine any predator surviving a stampede from one of these beasts.
06:46 Only young elephants are at real risk of getting killed by a predator with the chances being
06:52 increased if the young elephant strays from its pack and is left isolated.
06:57 3.
06:58 Porcupine
06:59 The porcupine is a small herbivorous animal.
07:05 Predators often make the mistake of thinking that these small animals are very easy prey
07:11 but they are always for a rude shock.
07:14 These small creatures are equipped with one of the most remarkable defense features, long,
07:20 sharp and piercing quills.
07:23 When attacked, porcupines take a defensive position and make their long, sharp quills
07:29 stand upright.
07:30 If the predator attempts to bite or stamp on the porcupine, these quills penetrate the
07:35 predator's skin and often get stuck in it.
07:39 A single experience with a porcupine is enough to teach any predator not to mess around with
07:46 them again.
07:48 2.
07:49 Rhinoceros
07:50 A fully grown healthy rhinoceros is virtually impossible to capture.
07:57 Rhinoceros are powerful and muscular with thick, impenetrable skin.
08:02 If that is not enough, to deter any predator, rhinoceros are also equipped with a characteristically
08:09 strong and sturdy horn at the tip of their mouth.
08:14 This is enough to inflict serious injury on any predator who dares to attack them.
08:20 Rhinos can be very ferocious when they intend to be, especially nursing mothers.
08:27 Training rhinos will defend their young ones at all costs.
08:31 Before we look at our top pick for today, for more interesting videos about wild animals
08:37 and pets, be sure to hit that subscribe button and turn on the bell notification so you get
08:43 notified when we upload a new video.
08:47 1.
08:48 Hippopotamus
08:49 The hippopotamus has such an intimidating appearance, you wonder why any predator would even bother
08:57 to attack these beasts.
08:59 Hippopotamuses are actually herbivores, yet they are a bit like carnivores.
09:05 When attacked, a hippopotamus will open its huge jaws extremely wide to intimidate its
09:12 predators and in those jaws is its most lethal weapon.
09:17 The hippopotamus possesses a very strong bite, so strong that a single bite is capable of
09:24 tearing a crocodile in half.
09:28 Hippos are also social animals and they move in groups of 10-30 members who are always
09:34 looking out for one another, so any predator would be silly to want to mess with them.
09:41 There you have it, the top 10 animals capable of standing up to their predators.
09:46 Do you think we left any out?
09:48 Let us know in the comment section below.
09:51 If you like this video, here are two more videos we think you'll love.
09:56 Do check them out.
09:58 See you next time.
09:59 [Music]