#ARE DOGS SCAVENGERS SKIN#
Most prey animals have thick hides and can most easily be entered through the soft skin of the abdomen, which lions shear with their carnassial teeth. Once a prey animal has been captured, lions first feed on the viscera then work their way through the fleshy parts of the carcass. Large groups of hyenas sometimes evict lions from an intact kill, but, overall, lions gain more food by scavenging from hyenas than vice versa. Lions and hyenas frequently scavenge from each other, but lions generally obtain the “lion’s share” before abandoning the carcasses to hyenas, who are able to digest skin and bones. Lions are such successful scavengers that wild dogs are unable to co-exist with them in areas of high lion density cheetahs are only able to co-exist with lions by finding “behavioral refuges” where they can feed undisturbed. The sight of vultures circling and landing can be irresistible, and lions also steal carcasses from wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and even other lions. Lions will scavenge whenever the opportunity presents itself. In such cases, pridemates typically stay back until their successful companion makes the kill.įemales are the most active hunters when pursuing small- or medium-sized prey such as warthog, gazelle, wildebeest or zebra, but males are better able to catch large prey such as buffalo and giraffe where bulk and strength are more important than speed or agility. But lions only occasionally cooperate when hunting prey that can easily be captured by a single lion.
Lions will hunt cooperatively when tackling difficult prey, such as buffalo or giraffe in East Africa or springbok in open habitats in Namibia. If the prey is captured, the lion bites at the muzzle or throat to throttle it. The final charge is usually less than 50 m any further and the lion will overheat. Lions either ambush approaching prey or move carefully to within striking distance.
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