Do lions kill only when they are hungry?
Lions are opportunistic predators and will attempt to kill whenever the opportunity presents itself. Although they kill only to sustain themselves, they do occasionally kill much more than they can consume. This usually happens when the prey animals are in a weak and emaciated condition and unable to escape or offer resistance.
On some occasions during droughts, when prey animals concentrate in large numbers around the last remaining water holes, lions, particularly young individuals, have been seen to kill several head of prey in a herd.
During the severe drought of 1996, a pride of lions killed five adult and 10 young African buffalo from a starving herd in one locality near Punda Maria. Similarly, near Lower Sabie a pride of lions killed six buffalo from a herd.
More frequently asked questions on the Lion
Can lions climb trees?
Do lions hide during rainy weather?
How large is the average lion pride?
Do lions have a social hierarchy?
Is there a way that one lion or lioness could avoid aggression from another?
Do all male lions possess a mane?
Is it true that lions usually mate over a two to three day period?
Why to male lions kill cubs that are not their own?
What is the normal life span of a lion?
Why do some males have black manes?
Can lions swim?
Do lions scavenge?
Do lions often become man eaters?
How often do female lions produce cubs?
Will a lioness allow cubs other than her own to suckle?
Do lions use specific strategy when they hunt?
What causes a lion to become a man eater?
Do lions attack elephants?
Does a pride of lions accept a stranger?
Do lions have enemies?
Do males often fight over females or in territorial disputes?
Do lions move around during the day?
Do the female lions do most of the hunting?
How far can the roar of a lion be heard?
Is lion cub mortality high?
Which habitat to lions prefer?
How do lions kill their prey?
Do the home ranges of lions overlap?
Are young adults expelled from the pride?
What is the size of the average lion litter?
Are lions sometimes injured by their prey?
Do lions kill their prey quickly?
At what age are lions sexually mature?
What speed can a lion reach when charging?
Are the senses of a lion well developed?
Do female lions secure food for their cubs?
How long do African Lions sleep on average?
What are lions breeding habits?
What are the preferred prey species of lion?
Can the female lion roar?
More frequently asked questions on: Mammals
Does a pride of lions accept a stranger?
Are there any conservation efforts in place to protect hippos in Kruger National Park?
What is the normal life span of a lion?
Are Thick Tailed Bushbabies territorial and to they actively defend their territory?
Do Thick Tailed Bushbabies demarcate their territory?
When do leopard cubs become independent?
Do Honey Badgers have any predators?
Why do African Elephants have wrinkles?
What do spotted hyenas eat?
How do Thick Tailed Bushbabies communicate?
Are Porcupines rodents?
Are spotted hyenas social animals?
Can visitors interact with the mammals in Kruger National Park?
What threats do Brown Hyenas face?
What do Vervet Monkeys eat?
Do baboons have a specific leader and how is dominance established?
Where can Suni be found in the Kruger National Park?
What do Elands look like?
Are cheetahs solitary animals?
How large is the average lion pride?
What do Lesser Bushbabies eat?
Do lions have a social hierarchy?
Are porcupines found in Kruger National Park?
How often do elephants give birth?
Do Suni have any predators?
How many muscles does an elephant trunk have?
What do Mountain Reedbucks look like?
What kind of sounds do cheetahs make?
Are Servals social animals?
What is the gestation period of a Thick Tailed Bushbaby?
What speed can a lion reach when charging?
What do Mountain Reedbucks eat?
What do Brown Hyenas eat?
Do other predators prey upon leopard?
How much meat can a lion consume during one meal?
How long do African Lions sleep on average?
How many Brown Hyenas are there in Kruger Park?
What is the general behaviour of the Lesser Bushbaby?
Are the senses of a lion well developed?
How do lions kill their prey?
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