The African lion (Panthera leo) is an apex predator and hyper-carnivore, occupying the highest level of the food web. Its survival depends entirely on consuming meat, which drives its social structure and hunting behavior. The lion’s diet is extensive, characterized by adaptability and opportunism. Prey selection is determined by environmental factors, prey availability, the size of the lion pride, and the region in which they live.
Primary Prey: The Bulk of the Lion’s Diet
The bulk of a lion’s caloric intake comes from large ungulates, which are herbivores weighing over 150 kilograms. Lions, particularly the lionesses who handle most of the hunting, target these animals because they offer the greatest energetic reward for the effort involved. Large herds provide a reliable, concentrated food source that is easier to ambush than solitary animals.
Wildebeest are frequently consumed, especially in East Africa’s Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems. During the Great Migration, millions of wildebeest and zebra move across the plains, providing an abundant source of prey. Lions capitalize on this movement, and studies show these two species account for a significant percentage of kills in migratory areas.
Zebra are a staple food source, often ranking as the top prey item in various regions. Their sheer numbers and tendency to panic when attacked make them vulnerable to a coordinated pride ambush. Large antelopes like Eland, Kudu, and Gemsbok are also regularly hunted, providing substantial meals that can sustain a pride for several days.
Cape Buffalo, an aggressive bovid, are a primary food source in many areas, sometimes surpassing wildebeest in dietary contribution. Hunting an adult buffalo, which can weigh over 800 kilograms, requires cooperative hunting and carries a substantial risk of injury. Despite the danger, the large biomass of a single buffalo kill makes the effort worthwhile for a pride.
Supplemental Prey and Scavenging
When preferred large ungulates are scarce, lions readily consume smaller animals. This supplemental diet ensures the pride remains fed during lean times or when a quick, low-risk catch is more efficient. Medium-sized antelopes, such as Impala, Waterbuck, and various Gazelles, are generally targeted by individual hunters or smaller groups.
Warthogs are a common source of protein across the savannah, often caught while rooting or moving between burrows. Smaller mammals, including hares, porcupines, and rodents, become important food items in drier regions where large prey density is low. These smaller catches are often secured by younger or less experienced lions honing their hunting skills.
Lions are opportunistic and frequently incorporate scavenging into their diet. They use their physical dominance to steal kills from other successful predators, such as cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. This behavior is common among male lions, who rely on intimidation to commandeer a secured carcass rather than engaging in a full hunt.
Dangerous and Defensive Targets
Some animals are rarely preyed upon due to their size, powerful defenses, or aggressive disposition. Giraffes are an example, as their powerful kicks make them dangerous to approach. Lions generally only attempt to hunt giraffes that are young, sick, or isolated, targeting them by trying to trip them and severing the spinal cord.
Young elephants and rhinoceroses are occasionally targeted, but only when separated from their mothers. In areas experiencing severe drought, lions have been documented successfully hunting juvenile elephants up to ten years old, a behavior driven by desperation and lack of other food sources. Adult elephants and rhinos are almost never attacked, as they are too large and capable of inflicting fatal injuries.
Hippopotamuses are rarely taken, and only when they are grazing on land away from the safety of water, where they are more vulnerable. Beyond seeking food, lions sometimes engage in competitive exclusion by killing other carnivores, such as African wild dogs or leopards. These killings are not for consumption but eliminate rivals for food resources and territory, demonstrating the lion’s dominance as the ecosystem’s top predator.