Barbary lion vs polar bear, one is a lonely cat brother, the other is a smiling bear boss, if the two are one-on-one frontal hard, who will have the last laugh? In this issue, the Director of the Exploration Bureau will decrypt it for you.
The Barbary lion, also known as the Atlas lion, is a lion subspecies that was formerly native to North Africa, including the Atlas Mountains, and is now considered extinct in the wild. Polar bears, also called white bears or sea bears, are found throughout the Arctic. Both are the top predators that have emerged on the planet, so what would happen in a one-on-one head-to-head scenario?
1. Physical condition
The Barbary lion was once considered one of the largest lion subspecies and the largest of all cats, and was given the title of "King of All Beasts" by humans, and the "King of All Beasts" Siberian Tiger was also inferior. The museum's specimen of a male Barbary lion is described as having a very dark and long mane that extends from the shoulders to the abdomen. Adult males are between 2.4-2.8 meters long from head to tail. A 19th-century hunter described that wild males weigh a lot, ranging from 270-300 kg. Because the temperature in the Atlas Mountains is much cooler than in other parts of Africa, especially in winter, the Barbary lion may have grown long hair.
Polar bears are the world's largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals. Starting from the tip of their very short tail, they are about 2.1 – 2.4 meters long, and some individuals can weigh more than 771 kilograms. The polar bear's many physical adaptations help it stay warm and cope with cold environments. Their outer coat is hollow and can be reflected, giving the fur a white color that helps camouflage. Interestingly, though, the skin underneath the polar bear's fur is actually black. They also have a thick layer of fat under their skin, which acts as heat insulation on the body and absorbs heat. Polar bears have strong legs and large, flat feet with webbing between their toes, which helps them swim and walk on ice.
2. Habitat environment
Barbary lions live in the surrounding countries of the Atlas Mountains, including the Barbary coast. By the mid-19th century, their numbers had decreased significantly. By 1890, the last survivors of Tunisia had been wiped out. The Barbary lion is thought to have become extinct in the wild in the early 20th century. However, a thorough review of hunting and sighting records suggests that the last Barbary lion was shot in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco in 1942. In the 50s of the 20th century, Barbary lions were discovered in Morocco and Algeria, and until the early 60s of the 20th century, there may still be a small number of remnants of Barbary lions in remote areas.
Polar bears mostly live north of the Arctic Circle and extend all the way to the North Pole. They are found in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, and some northern islands owned by Norwegians. Polar bears rely on sea ice that forms on open water, and when there is no sea ice, they spend some time on land. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can swim long distances between the coast and sea ice if necessary. During ice melting, polar bears often swim between floating Icelands. For polar bears, ice that does not melt permanently or for many years is more important than ice that melts and reforms every year. This multi-year freeze is becoming increasingly rare, but it may last longer in the northwestern Canadian archipelago than Alaska or the northern coast of Russia.
3. Hunting methods
Big cats are carnivores that prefer to prey on large prey. In the Atlas Mountains, they feed on Barbary deer and gazelles, and elsewhere on red deer and wild boars. When prey becomes scarce, they attack farm animals, such as sheep and cattle, often leading to deadly confrontations with humans determined to protect their livelihoods. Unfortunately, how they hunt has never been accurately documented, but it is believed that, like most lions, they strangle their prey and then distribute it to their girlfriends.
Unlike other bears, polar bears eat almost exclusively meat. They mainly eat ringed seals, but may also eat bearded seals. Polar bears prey on seals by waiting for them to surface to breathe. When a seal comes close to the surface, the polar bear bites or grabs it, dragging it to land to feed. Of course, they also eat the carcasses of whales and walruses. Polar bears also seek eggs and other food sources, but these are not enough to support their large weight and dense numbers. Seal pups born and raised in Arctic ice caves are another important food source for most polar bears. Polar bears identify these caves by smell and some clues and swoop onto rooftops to catch baby seals.
4. Behavioral habits
Male and female Barbary lions only come together for breeding, and their breeding season is usually in January. Their gestation period in captivity is about 110 days, after which 1-6 pups are born, the most common being 3-4, which are covered with black roses. The pups stay with their mothers until they are two years old, when they choose to separate.
Polar bears are solitary animals. When seals are killed and given a chance to forage, they may compete with each other. In this case, smaller bears usually run away. Polar bears can dive underwater to catch prey, keep their eyes open and hold their breath for up to 2 minutes. They spend most of their time lying, sleeping or waiting, and the rest of their time is usually spent traveling, or walking or swimming, or feeding or stalking their prey.
5. The ultimate battle
After the above analysis, it is time to fight! Barbary lions vs polar bears, who is more combative?
As with any hypothetical animal fight, many factors can affect the outcome, including size, agility, strength, who strikes first, and who is lucky enough to take decisive damage. While polar bears gain an advantage in size and raw strength, Barbary lions have learned the tricks of subduing elephants and buffaloes without the help of their teammates, which are heavier and larger beasts than polar bears. Although this rarely happens, it is a complete testament to the power of the king of all beasts.
Lions, as a member of the feline family, have enviable weapons, athleticism, and agility, which allows them to move with greater flexibility, speed, and agility. Polar bears, on the other hand, not only possess great upper body strength, but also have a devastating biting ability, enough to produce enough power to break bones. In addition, the bear's large amount of fat and muscle tissue also makes it have stronger endurance than the lion.
Historically, lions have killed brown bears and polar bears countless times in cage battles, and there are more records of lions killing bears in cage battles than there are records of bears killing lions. In general, everyone is guessing at the outcome of this battle, but the chief believes that it all depends on who is lucky enough to deliver the decisive blow. If the Barbary lion can attack from the flank and drag down the polar bear with its quick attack and movement ability, then its chances will be great.
So, in the end, the director came to the conclusion that Barbary Lion would have a 52.3% chance of beating the polar bear. Do you agree with the Commissioner's analysis and conclusions? Feel free to voice your views in the comments section.