Lions are one of the fiercest predators around. Thus, any animal it encounters is likely to escape or flee rather than fight back. However, while lions do great in hunting and killing other animals, you may wonder if they do the same to their own kind. Thus, you may ask:
Do lions eat lions? Lions don’t eat lions, but it can happen sometimes. These animals only kill another of their kind in a fight for dominance or for a particular territory. The male lions can also kill their female lioness should they refuse to mate. They can also kill their own cubs or the cubs of others.
Lions are social animals, and they usually come in packs, living together and hunting together. Thus, while they care for their pride members, they still exhibit signs of dominance, which can lead to fighting and killing another.
In this article, you’ll see how a lion shows its dominance and how it deals with other lions, whether it’s a member of the pride or outside of it. This way, you can make sense of how these animals deal with inside conflicts and socialization.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
Do lions eat other lions?
In general, lions don’t eat another lion, but there are times that they do. These animals live in groups that we call pride, so they care for other members and won’t attack them.
Instead, these animals hunt together and find their prey together. Lions also sleep together and bond with each other.
For this reason, they don’t eat other lions, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Lions, while social animals, also like to show dominance. Whether it’s over territory or another lion, they would always be ready to fight for it.
It’s in these cases that lions end up fighting each other and killing each other. At the same time, these animals can eat a dead lion if they find one.
Also Read: Do Lions Eat Giraffes?
Can lions eat lion meat?
Another thing worth noting is a lion’s preference for the meat they eat. In general, lions don’t eat other predator’s meat. Thus, they usually go for herbivores such as zebras, gazelles, and giraffes.
The reason is that a predator’s meat doesn’t provide the nutrition they need. Unlike herbivores, predators are carnivores. Thus, it means they don’t have nutrients coming from plants.
Of course, during desperate times when lions haven’t eaten for days, they would eat predator’s meat.
The same thing is the case for lion’s meat. Since lions themselves are predators, their meat has lesser to no nutrition than a herbivore’s meat.
Thus, they won’t eat their own kin’s meat unless they find the need to do so.
Do lions eat lions when they die?
Lions die due to many reasons. However, when they die, other lions may or may not eat their dead bodies.
As I said earlier, a lion’s meat doesn’t contain the nutrients it can get from a herbivore.
For this reason, it’s a matter of available food and their hunger if they would eat a dead lion’s body.
For instance, if the pride haven’t eaten for days and are starving, they might feast on a lion when it dies.
However, if they just had their fill and then one of their own dies, it’s not likely that they would eat it.
Why do lions eat other lions?
As I said earlier, lions eat other lions because they desperately need to do so. Or, it’s because they are fighting for dominance over the other or over territory.
Also, lions eat other lions, especially male lions, if a lioness refuses to mate with them.
Lions can also eat their cubs, especially the male ones. This way, they show their lioness that she belongs to them and should ignore their cubs.
It’s why lionesses search for dens and move away from pride when it’s about to give birth.
Do lions like lion meat?
Lions don’t like a lion’s meat simply because it’s not quite as nutritious as their regular prey’s meat.
One thing to note is that lions don’t like a predator’s meal. Thus, they usually go for herbivores such as zebras, gazelles, and giraffes.
The reason is that a predator’s meat doesn’t provide the nutrition they need. Unlike herbivores, predators are carnivores. Thus, it means they don’t have nutrients coming from plants.
Since they are predators, they won’t eat their own kind unless they are starving.
In short, they don’t like lion’s meat, and they won’t eat such unless they find the need to do so.
Do lions eat baby lions?
Lions do eat baby lions, but only on certain occasions. Like other animals, it happens when male lions eat newborns for many reasons.
First, it can be an expression of attention-seeking for the lioness. Since the cubs get the lioness’s attention so much, they eat their cubs, so the attention gets back to them.
On the other hand, it can also be another expression of dominance and removing potential competition.
Do lions eat other lions’ cubs?
Lions do eat other lions’ cubs, and it’s mainly to establish dominance over the territory.
When lions go to other places, they eat the cubs and get the lioness. In short, they show control and power over a particular territory.
In general, lions won’t eat cubs for the sake of feeding and filling their hunger.
They only do so to establish their identity as the dominant one among the pride.
Do lions eat their cubs?
Lions eat their cub sometimes, although some lionesses are smart enough to prevent it from happening.
Lions have a single reason why they would eat the newborn cubs, and it is to establish dominance.
For this reason, lionesses who are about to give birth usually move away from the pride. They seek a den or a place where they can give birth, let the cubs grow, and avoid getting killed by the male lions.
Summary
So, do lions eat lions? Lions don’t usually eat lions, but it can happen sometimes. If they do, it’s almost always a result of a fight for dominance or for a particular territory.
One thing to remember is that lions don’t like to eat predator meat because it lacks nutrients, unlike herbivore meat. Since they are predators, their own kind’s meat isn’t appealing to them. However, they would eat such if they are starving.
Male lions can also kill their female lioness should they refuse to mate. They can also kill their own cubs or the cubs of others. As I said earlier, lions are social animals. Thus, they usually come in packs, living together and hunting together.
Take note that lions care for their pride members. However, they still exhibit signs of dominance. It’s the only reason why they end up killing and eating their own kind.
Resources
Image credits – Canva
