In this article, we’ll answer the question:
“What do lions eat?”
First, you’ll find a short summary of what lions eat in nature, then get a list of a lion’s favorite foods that make up a typical lion diet. And finally, answers to common questions about lion feeding habits and nutrition.
Lions are a large cat of the genus Panthera in the family Felidae under the suborder Feliformia of the order Carnivora. Lions are native to Africa and India and are at the top of the food chain as an apex and keystone predator.
What Do Lions Eat?
Lions eat medium-sized to large hoofed animals, such as antelopes, zebras, and wildebeests because they are obligate carnivores. Sometimes a lion can prey on larger animals, particularly the injured and ill ones. A lion’s diet is determined by the availability of prey in its habitat.
Lion Diet (Favorite Foods)
- Antelopes
- Impalas
- Zebras
- Wildebeests
- Water buffalos
How Often Does a Lion Eat?
A lion often eats every three to four days. The feeding and hunting frequency of a lion depends on the size of its kill.
How Much Do Lions Eat Per Day?
Lions eat 5 to 7 kg of meat per day but can feed up to 50 kg (15% of their body weight) in a single meal, especially when they go for a long time without food. Male lions consume an average of 7 kgs of meat per day whereas lionesses at around 5 kg of meat each day.
How Long Can Lions Live Without Food?
Lions can live for 14 days without food and four days without water. However, a lion can live without food for up to a month with an adequate water supply. Baby lions can only survive for a day without food because they are fed several times a day.
Do Lions Eat Blood?
Lions do not eat blood or suck blood from their prey. Even though lions hold their prey tight in their mouth for long, they do so to make sure the kill is dead and not to suck its blood.
Do Lions Eat Fruit?
Lions do eat fruits in rare cases, but their diets mainly consist of meat because they are carnivores. A lion’s diet comprises 70-75% meat, making them hypercarnivores.
Do Lions Eat Humans?
Lions do eat humans in rare circumstances, such as starvation, old age, and illness. Man-eater lions have been reported to actively enter human villages at night as well as during the day to acquire prey.
What Animals Eat Lions?
Lions are prey to a number of different species.
You can visit our other guide on what animals eat lions to find out which predators actively feed on these mammals.
Lion Eating Habits and Diet Summary
You now know what do lions eat in the wild as well as the typical food in a lion’s diet.
As you discovered in this guide, lions are obligate carnivores that prey on various species for nutrition with a lion’s favorite food being things like antelopes, zebras, and wildebeests.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
