Lions consuming the bodies of their own kind is a rare but documented behavior that challenges the typical image of these apex predators. While lions primarily hunt large herbivores like wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo, intraspecies consumption, which includes both scavenging and active cannibalism, does occur under specific, compelling circumstances. This behavior is highly unusual for a species that relies on complex social structures and is generally driven by extreme survival pressures or intense social conflict.
The Direct Answer: Necrophagy and Scavenging
Lions do, in fact, engage in necrophagy, which is the act of scavenging on the remains of an already deceased lion. This behavior is not a regular part of their diet and is generally avoided due to instinctual and potential disease risks associated with consuming a carnivore. However, when a lion dies from natural causes, such as old age or a severe injury, members of the same pride or unrelated individuals may utilize the carcass as a food source.
This scavenging is a pragmatic response to not letting a significant source of protein go to waste within a territory. The consumption of an already dead body differs distinctly from active cannibalism, which involves killing a conspecific for the purpose of eating it. While lions usually avoid this, the sheer quantity of meat in a lion carcass can be too tempting to ignore in resource-scarce environments.
Environmental Pressures and Intraspecies Consumption
External environmental factors, particularly extreme resource scarcity, can override the typical avoidance of intraspecies consumption. During severe droughts or periods of widespread famine, when the populations of their usual prey animals decline sharply, lions face intense hunger. This desperation can force them to consume the remains of their own species as a last-resort survival measure.
In these instances of environmental stress, the instinct to survive outweighs the natural reluctance to feed on a fellow carnivore. The consumption often involves remains that have been dead for some time or are in the process of dying from starvation or injury. This is a measure of pure caloric necessity, driven by the immediate need for sustenance until normal prey sources return.
Cannibalism in the Context of Social Dynamics
The most common and intentional form of intraspecies consumption in lions is tied directly to the violent social structure of the pride. This behavior frequently manifests as infanticide, particularly when a new coalition of male lions successfully takes over a pride from the previous resident males. The new males will systematically kill the unweaned cubs sired by the defeated males to eliminate rival genes.
Lionesses will not cycle into estrus while they are nursing cubs, so the killing of the young rapidly induces the females to become receptive to mating. This reproductive strategy often involves the subsequent consumption of the dead cub, which serves the dual purpose of eliminating the evidence and providing a small nutritional benefit. This act is one of dominance and reproductive fitness rather than purely satisfying hunger.
Cannibalism also occurs frequently following violent territorial disputes between rival male coalitions. When a male lion is killed in a brutal fight over territory or pride control, the victorious males will sometimes feed on the body of the defeated rival. This act is a definitive display of dominance, signaling to potential future challengers that the victor is ruthless. This consumption of a rival serves to both eliminate competition and ensure that the valuable nutrients are not claimed by other scavengers like hyenas.