Lions are the largest apex predators in Africa, occupying a unique position in savanna and grassland ecosystems. Their survival depends on a highly flexible feeding strategy that allows them to adapt to changing conditions and prey availability. A lion’s diet operates on a spectrum, ranging from actively sought large herbivores to smaller, opportunistic meals. This adaptability dictates whether they pursue a high-risk, high-reward target or settle for an easier kill. Understanding what a lion hunts requires examining the complex energetic and risk calculations made before every pursuit.
Primary Targets and Preferred Prey
When conditions are favorable, lions focus on large ungulates that offer the most substantial caloric payoff. Lions preferentially target prey species weighing between 190 and 550 kilograms, with the optimum mass being around 350 kilograms. This preference maximizes energetic return relative to the effort and risk involved in a hunt. A single large kill can feed an entire pride for several days, making it an efficient use of energy reserves.
The most frequently preferred targets include plains zebra, blue wildebeest, and Cape buffalo. These animals are large enough to provide significant biomass, ensuring a profitable meal. Giraffes are also targeted, though typically only calves or weaker adults, due to the defensive capabilities of healthy adults. This focus on medium-to-large ungulates provides the bulk of a lion’s dietary intake.
Criteria for Prey Selection
The choice of which animal to pursue is a dynamic decision influenced by internal and external factors. A significant internal factor is the size and composition of the hunting group, or pride. A large pride can successfully coordinate to bring down formidable prey, such as a healthy adult Cape buffalo, which would be too dangerous for a small group or a solitary hunter. Conversely, smaller groups often select for smaller prey to minimize the risk of injury.
External conditions also play a role in the risk assessment process. Environmental factors such as dense grass cover, the absence of moonlight, and wind direction increase a lion’s hunting success rate. These elements provide concealment to approach prey undetected, reducing the energy expenditure of a chase. Seasonal changes also affect selection; for example, drought conditions may weaken large animals like buffalo, making them more susceptible to predation.
The most critical selection criterion is the vulnerability of the individual animal within a herd. Lions instinctively target any animal displaying physical signs of weakness, such as an injury, advanced age, or illness, because these represent the easiest and lowest-risk opportunities. Minimizing the chance of sustaining an injury is paramount, often overriding species preference if the risk is deemed too high. This strategic focus on compromised individuals ensures the greatest chance of a successful kill while conserving energy.
Opportunistic Hunting and Scavenging
While large ungulates form the core of the diet, lions are highly opportunistic and will readily consume smaller food sources when necessary. These targets include warthogs, young antelopes, hares, birds, and even reptiles, especially when preferred prey is scarce or difficult to catch. Warthogs, for instance, are often taken because of their low vigilance and tendency to flee into burrows, making them predictable targets.
Scavenging is an integral part of a lion’s opportunistic feeding strategy and a crucial component of their overall caloric intake. Lions frequently consume carrion, often stealing carcasses from smaller predators like hyenas and cheetahs. In some populations, scavenging can account for a significant portion of the total diet. This behavior is energetically favorable, providing a substantial meal without the associated risk of injury or the energy cost of a dangerous chase.