Professor clarifies animal scenes in Gladiator II and their historical accuracy

The movie "Gladiator II" features scenes with rhinos, baboons, and sharks, raising questions about their historical accuracy in the Roman Colosseum. Director Ridley Scott had long envisioned a rhino fight, which was finally realized in this sequel. While rhinos were indeed showcased in Roman arenas, they were not fought by gladiators. Instead, they were popular attractions. Baboons could have been present, but they were less common than other animals like lions and elephants. Sharks, however, were never part of Colosseum spectacles. A professor noted that there is no evidence Romans even knew about sharks, despite their interest in exotic sea creatures. Other semi-aquatic animals, like crocodiles, were more likely used in staged battles.