The lion diet is very simple, basically, they eat any animal they can catch. However, when it comes to food, the kings of the jungle are more complex than they seem. They follow a kind of rules, they have their favorite dishes, and the whole process of catching the prey seems to have a whole strategy behind it.
Lions being natural predators, they are an important link in the food chain of the animal world. These creatures deserve and should be in their natural habitat, not in captivity. Nature is the only place where they can express their wildest side and thus fulfill their function within the cycle of life.
If you are a fan of this majestic feline, want to know what it likes to eat and also know how it hunts, continue reading this article on our site, where we will tell you all aboutfeeding the lion.
The lion, a potential predator
The lion's jaws are extremely strong. Its skull, which is built based on them, has large spaces or surfaces, so that they can fit perfectly and perform the action of opening and closing the mouth in a comfortable and powerful way.
Your canine teeth are like curved stalactites (long and sharp). The premolars are made to tear off pieces of meat, which then go to the stomach practically without being chewed, because lions have very primitive molars.
The lunge of the lion is biting in the neck and holding several times, until they suffocate the animal. This happens with large animals, which have more strength and put up more resistance.
The plan of attack
Lions are said to be somewhat clumsy physically as they are not as fast and agile as they seem. On the contrary, they are all strategists when it comes to the search for food. Unlike other felines in the animal kingdom, lions hunt in a group not alone, where everyone has their role and knows what position to take within the territory.
Although in documentaries, most of the time, we see a lion just hunting some prey, hidden behind him, surely some of his henchmen will be found. The females, usually the hunters, prefer to do it at night, in exposed lands but with dense vegetation, this, to be able to hide and then run when they consider it opportune.
Lions are experts at creating hunting logistics. First, they form a fan to surround the prey and reduce its chances of escape. Second, they know that they are not as fast as a gazelle, so they approach ste althily, until they reach a point of proximity where they can jump and surprise the other animal. Their well-known mysterious attitude is due to how calculating they can be during the hunt.
What do lions eat?
Although lions prefer to hunt animals weighing between 50 and 500 kg, they take every opportunity to eat anything that comes their way their way, including birds, rodents, reptiles and hares. His motto "when hunger strikes, it's time to strike."
His favorite animals are medium-sized mammals such as zebras, buffalo, antelope, gazelle and wild boar. Even the fearsome hyenas can fall victim to lions. A lion can eat more than 20 kg of meat in a single hunt and kill between 10 and 15 animals a year, supplementing its diet with carrion and leftovers from other animals. Nothing is wasted in nature.
It is highly unlikely that a lion will catch an animal much larger than itself such as an elephant or a large rhinoceros. He knows full well that she poses a threat to his own safety, where he could be seriously injured.
A nap after lunch
The lions are out all day or hunting or sleepingAlthough they digest food very quickly and manage to go 4 days without drinking water, they tend to be very lazy. These cats can spend up to 20 hours sleeping or spend the day lying down. They really like to rest on tree trunks.
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