Simulated Battles Between the Strongest Animals in the Animal Kingdom

They’re two of the most ferocious creatures in the animal kingdom. But have you ever wondered what a fight between a hippopotamus and a great white shark might look like? Now, scientists have set the record straight, after using artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate battles between the most terrifying animals on Earth.

Somewhat surprising results emerged from the simulations – suggesting that a hippo would beat a great white shark and even take down a polar bear. However, the ultimate champion of the animal kingdom, according to researchers from Animal Matchup, is the African Elephant.

Scientists have used AI to simulate battles between the most terrifying animals on Earth. In honor of World Animal Day, experts from Animal Match set out to settle the debate – which animal is the strongest? The team enlisted the help of AI chatbot, ChatGPT, and used a range of inputs, including the size, weight, strength, speed, offensive, and defensive capabilities of 256 animals. For each matchup, the researchers ran a series of 11 battles, advancing the animal with the highest win rate.

“Although it’s very difficult to know how some animals would react to others, AI and researchers try to make educated guesses about how combat will play out,” Animal Match said.

Here’s how the top 10 strongest animals stack up against each other:

1. African Elephant

   The African Elephant emerged as the winner of the entire tournament, having beaten the Capybara, Rhesus Monkey, African Rock Python, Malayan Tiger, Cassowary, Colossal Squid, Saltwater Crocodile, and Siberian Tiger. With a shoulder height of up to 12.9ft (3.96 meters) and a staggering body mass of up to 10.4 tonnes, the African Elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal on Earth. Dr. Arjun Dheer, a wildlife scientist who works with Animal Matchup, said: “These findings align with our understanding of the African Elephant’s impressive attributes. Their immense size, combined with their strength and intelligence, has long placed them at the pinnacle of combat ability in the animal kingdom. They are not only formidable in terms of physical strength but also exhibit remarkable social behaviors and problem-solving abilities, making them a truly iconic species.”

2. Siberian Tiger

   The Siberian Tiger came in second place, winning battles against the Galapagos Tortoise, Wandering Albatross, Clouded Leopard, Sperm Whale, Bald Eagle, Leopard, and Hippopotamus. Also known as Amur Tigers, Siberian Tigers are one of the largest tiger subspecies in the world. Males can weigh up to 418 lbs (190 kg), while females are slightly smaller, at 286 lbs (130 kg). Unfortunately, Siberian Tigers are seriously endangered in the wild, with the Zoological Society of London estimating only 265–486 individuals left in the Russian Far East.

3. Saltwater Crocodile

   With six victories to its name, the Saltwater Crocodile claimed the joint-bronze medal. Reaching lengths of more than 23 feet (6.5 meters) and weighing over 2,200 pounds, the Saltwater Crocodile is the largest reptile on the planet. Thanks to its powerful bite and territorial dominance, it overcame adversaries including the Bull Shark, Orca, Humboldt Squid, Harpy Eagle, American Alligator, and Tiger Shark, losing only to the African Elephant.

4. Hippopotamus

   Though often portrayed as calm and docile, hippos are some of the most ferocious creatures in the animal kingdom. Despite weighing up to 3,960 lbs (1,800 kg), hippos are surprisingly agile and especially formidable thanks to their powerful bites. The hippo also received the joint-bronze medal, emerging victorious in battles against Baird’s Tapir, American Black Bear, Hammerhead Shark, Mako Shark, Great White Shark, and Polar Bear.

5. Leopard

   The leopard’s stealth and agility earned it five victories against the Hobo Spider, Jungle Cat, Mountain Gorilla, Southern Elephant Seal, and Moose. Unfortunately, it could not overcome the mighty Siberian Tiger in its final clash.

6. Tiger Shark

   When it comes to ferocious sharks, the Great White might spring to mind. But the tournament results show that it is the Tiger Shark who fared better, beating out five worthy opponents. Its victories over the Eyelash Viper, Ocelot, Electric Eel, Snow Leopard, and Nile Crocodile demonstrated its versatility, but it ultimately fell short against the Saltwater Crocodile.

7. Polar Bear

   The largest bear in the world, the polar bear is the Arctic’s top predator. Its mouth is decked with 42 razor-sharp teeth that pack quite the bite, while its paws are 11.8 inches (30 cm) – the size of a dinner plate! While it ultimately lost to the Hippopotamus in the tournament, the polar bear gave five other competitors a run for their money. According to the AI’s simulations, the polar bear would win against the Gaboon Viper, Monitor Lizard, Giant Otter, Wild Water Buffalo, and Inland Taipan.

8. Colossal Squid

   As its name suggests, the Colossal Squid is an enormous squid that lives in the deep sea surrounding Antarctica. Reaching a combined body and tentacle length up to 46ft (14 meters) and weighing at least 1,100 lbs (500 kg), it is the largest invertebrate on Earth. While it struggled to take down the African Elephant, the Colossal Squid was victorious against the Black Caiman, Crocodile Monitor, Chimpanzee, Gaur, and Wolverine.

9. Nile Crocodile

   The second crocodile to make the top 10 is the Nile Crocodile – a 500 lbs (227 kg) species native to freshwater habitats in Africa. In the tournament, the Nile Crocodile won against the Red-Bellied Piranha, Striped Hyena, Bornean Orangutan, and White Rhinoceros, losing only to the Tiger Shark. And while humans weren’t included in the simulation, it’s likely we wouldn’t stand a chance against the Nile Crocodile. “The proximity of much of its habitat to people means run-ins are frequent,” National Geographic explains. “And its virtually indiscriminate diet means a villager washing clothes by a riverbank might look just as tasty as a migrating wildebeest. Firm numbers are sketchy, but estimates are that up to 200 people may die each year in the jaws of a Nile croc.”

10. Cassowary

    Rounding out the top 10 is the Cassowary, widely considered the most dangerous bird in the world. Its three-toed foot has a dagger-like claw measuring up to four inches (10 cm) long, and with a single swift kick, the cassowary can cause some serious damage! What’s more, cassowaries can jump nearly seven feet (two meters) straight up into the air and swim. These adaptations helped it fend off Grevy’s Zebra, Meerkat, Olive Baboon, and Bonobo in the tournament. In the end, it lost out to the African Elephant.

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