One of the most amazing things about nature is the food chain. The fact that in different ecosystems there are alpha predators, those at the top of the food chain, that cause a chain reaction of prey and predators below them is remarkable. While you would never want to be locked in a room with any alpha predator, the question remains, which predator is the most dangerous of them all? Let’s take a look at the top alpha predators around the world and what their rate of success is of kills per 100 chases to see who comes out on top.
Tiger or Lion
To many, the tiger or lion is the picture-perfect example of an alpha predator. To some, they are the king of the jungle and the African plains but the stats are not so flattering. Studies have shown that tigers are only successful in 5% of their chases, with the lion only marginally better at 25%. It is proven that lions are more successful when attacking with their pride. A single lion has a success rate of 18% while those in a pack are closer to 30%.
Domestic Cat
A true predator, the domestic cat has a success rate of 32% and it can go as high as 70% in open habitats. While these furry creatures may look cute they are skillful predators. It does make you wonder why Tom has never been successful in catching Jerry as he has certainly tried more than a 1000 times.
Cheetah
The fastest animal in the Serengeti is rarely going to lose out on a meal. They are successful 58% of the time. They often lose out to larger predators once they have caught their prey. This shows that larger predators are utilizing the speed of the Cheetah to have an easy meal.
African Wild Dog
The African Wild Dog is the standout predator though. It has a success rate of 85%. These wild dogs (that are not actually a dog) are so successful because they travel in large packs. They are incredibly fast reaching over 70km/h. Sadly these amazing creatures are now on the endangered species list as their numbers continue to dwindle.
