This Animal is Strong Enough to Lift 2,000 Pounds

The World's Strongest Man competition is held each year at different locations worldwide, testing athletes in various events to determine who is the strongest. Great Britain's Tom Stoltman took the 2024 title and has lifted more than 1,100 pounds in competition. This is quite an impressive feat, yet, compared to many animals here, Stoltman wouldn't even place in the top three. This animal is strong enough to lift 2,000 pounds.

Not all animals listed here are known for their size. Many have impressive strength relative to their size, like the leaf cutter ant, considered one of the world's strongest animals, which uses its exceptional strength and speed and can withstand pressure up to 5,000 times its own body weight. Animals use their physical strength for different purposes. Some use it for hunting while others use it for protection.

To determine some of the strongest animals in the world, 24/7 Tempo consulted sources such as BBC, Popular Science, and Britannica. Here are 11 of the strongest animals on Earth in no particular order. (Check out The Longest Living Animals in the World.)

The grizzly is a type of brown bear and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds. You'll find these bears in many states in the US such as Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, and Idaho. Adult grizzly bears have impressive strength and can lift over 1,100 pounds.

Tigers are not only the biggest cat breed but are also the strongest in size and muscle mass. A tiger can lift up to twice its body weight and has a higher muscle mass than a lion. They also have a lot of strength in their paws, which they often use to kill their prey.

The jaguar has the strongest bite force of all the big cats. Its bite alone is enough to kill prey four times its body weight. The bite force of the average jaguar is about 1,500 pounds per square inch. What the jaguar lacks in size compared to other large cat species, it makes up for in the strength of its bite.

Although polar bears don't attack humans as often as other animals, they can be incredibly dangerous. Polar bears are one of the strongest animals and can weigh up to 1,800 pounds. The average polar bear can lift nearly 1,000 pounds and have strong jaws that they use for hunting.

You may be surprised to see an ant on the list of strongest animals, but this insect is strong for its size. While an ant doesn't seem strong compared to many of the ferocious animals on this list, this tiny insect can lift 50 times its body weight. Leaf cutter ants use their immense strength to gather food and build colonies.

The dung beetle is another insect with a lot of strength in relation to its size. This insect can move objects over 1,000 times its body weight. The strength of the dung beetle is vital to its survival since they use their strength to gather dung, rolling it into balls. These dung balls are both food for the insects and a place for them to lay eggs.

Gorillas are known for their strong arms. The strength in their arms is necessary for their survival since they use them to walk and swing from tree to tree. Male western lowland gorillas usually weigh about 370 pounds, but their eastern lowland gorilla cousins can weigh up to 453 pounds. They are about 10 times stronger than humans and are strong enough to lift 1,700 pounds.

The African elephant is often considered the strongest animal in the world. It's also considered the largest land animal in the world. African elephants can lift up to 2,000 pounds with their tusks alone. Elephants are also considered one of the most dangerous animals and kill about 500 people every year.

The harpy eagle is an incredibly powerful bird. The female eagle is stronger than the male and is considered the strongest bird in the world. This type of eagle can lift up to two times their body weight. The harpy eagle uses its strong talons to crush their prey.

Common hippopotamuses are not only strong, but they're also one of the most dangerous animals. Even though hippopotamuses are herbivores, they are incredibly aggressive and kill roughly 500 people each year. The strength of a hippo is in its bite since these animals have a bite force of about 2,000 pounds per square inch.

Rhinos are incredibly large and strong animals. The average rhino weighs between 1700 and 3000 pounds. However, the white rhino can weigh nearly 8,000 pounds. Rhinos often use their strong horns to lift objects and it's estimated that one rhino can lift nearly 2,500 pounds. (Don't miss The Most Exotic Pets Ever Owned.)