Lions often lose their kills to hyenas and sometimes to crocodiles. History Business & Finance Geography World View Science Pets & Animals Home / Pets & Animals / Mammals / Large Cats / What Eats Mountain Lions? ... See full answer below. But do any animals commit regular regicide against the king of the jungle? Likewise, even the newborns and cubs who are vulnerable and weak are eaten by some predators. Lions occupy a penthouse suite atop the food chain, overlooking the animal kingdom like a regal beacon of doom. However, due to the super-large size of adult rhinos, lions rarely attack them. Lions are popular targets for trophy hunters, especially amongst wealthy westerners. For example, a lion is a predator when it eats a zebra, but a cannibal if it eats another lion. Reference.com says lions can die attacking animals like crocodiles, sable antelopes, or — heaven forbid –- a hippo. While the lion is an apex predator, it falls prey to humans. But a healthy adult lion has little to fear from any other animal. Lions Favorite Prey (lion diet) Cape Buffalo Gemsbok Wildebeest Burchell’s Zebra Giraffe Warthog Now, there are only about 20,000 wild lions according to Mother Nature Network, but thanks to the forward-thinking nature of the Maasai, they stand a better chance. Lions have almost no predators. What Eats Mountain Lions? Scavengers may have their fill, but ultimately the last thing that consumes the lion's energy (calories) are decomposers. And, what does a lion eat? Learning resources Video Resources To close… We hope this has been useful in understanding what lions eat on a daily basis. That's good, because — as we've mentioned — there aren't many lions left. Lions have almost no predators. Mountain lions don't … However, due to low remaining lion numbers, the Post article proclaims that even the Maasai have chosen conservation over tradition, choosing to prove manhood through Olympics-style competition instead. Specifically, the Maasai tribe has long been known for its rite of passage lion hunting, according to the Washington Post, which required a young man to kill a lion to become a warrior. Eric Kilby/CC-BY-2.0. However, old, sick lions are sometimes attacked, killed and eaten by hyenas. We follow this pattern in zoos, as our lions have two “starve” days out of seven. No predators hunt lions to eat them; however, they do have a few natural enemies, such as hyenas and cheetahs. So long as gun-toting dinguses don't go slaying for the 'gram and we preserve their fast-shrinking habitat, lions will be around for a while yet. Why? What African Lions Eat. They most often hunt at dawn or dusk, but can adapt to their prey to change their schedule. Besides, the Maasai tribe doesn't eat game meat, meaning there simply aren't any animals alive today that naturally consume lions. “Africa’s Lion Population Plummets by Two-Thirds in 50 Years Study Finds,” NBC World News, December 2012; Blog Posts about the Lion. Animals like cheetahs and hyenas are known for stealing and eating lion cubs – if and when the opportunity arises. African lions are carnivores as you may have expected. However, old, sick lions are sometimes attacked, killed and eaten by hyenas. Get smart with the Thesis WordPress Theme from DIYthemes. They usually kill medium sized mammals, such as zebra, deer and wildebeest. Cubs are often killed by hyenas, wild dogs, and leopards. And very young lions can be killed by hyenas, leopards and other predators when they are not being watched carefully by their mothers. However, those odds aren't too high, and that's about all of the wildlife that poses a real threat to a lion. That’s because lions are at the top of their food chain, and at the very center of their food web. Reproduction and life cycle Mostly, animals get eaten by lions, not the other way around. A mountain lion's only concern is being hunted by humans. In theory, any scavenger might feed upon a lion after it's dead, but the only true remaining lion killer is us humans. Lions hunt for food every few days. Specifically, the Maasai tribe has long been known for its rite of passage lion hunting, according to the Washington Post, which required a young man to kill a lion to become a warrior. Featured Quiz: African Animals - May 15, 2018; 33 Rescued Circus Lions Prepare for African Voyage - November 5, 2015; VIDEO: White Lion Cubs at Toronto Zoo - October 18, 2015 ’ s because lions are sometimes attacked, killed and eaten by lions, not the other around! Their prey to change their schedule however, they do have a animals! 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