what is the diet of the african lion
Lion Lions are generalist hypercarnivores[94] and usually hunt in groups. Their prey consists mainly of mammals, particularly ungulates, with a preference for wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, gemsbok, and giraffes in Africa[95] and chital, sambar deer, nilgai, wild boar, chinkara and chousingha in India.[96] African lions prefer prey weighing 190–550 kg (420–1,210 lb).[95] They generally avoid fully grown adult elephants, hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses, as well as very small prey like dik-dik, hyrax, hare and vervet monkey.[97] However, Thomson's gazelles may be hunted[98] and warthogs are often taken depending on availability, despite being below the preferred weight range.[95] In most areas, a small number of species may make up around three-fourths of the lion's diet. In Serengeti National Park, wildebeest, zebras and gazelle are the majority of prey.[99] In Kruger National Park, giraffes are the most common prey,[100] and in Manyara Park, Cape buffaloes constitute as much as 62% of the lion's diet,[101] due to the high number density of buffaloes. At the Okavango Delta, with its strong seasonal changes in prey, up to eight species may make up three quarters of a lion's diet.[99] Occasionally adult hippopotamus are taken at Gorongosa National Park and calves are commonly hunted at Virunga National Park. In addition to size, the aquatic nature of hippos makes them normally unavailable as prey.[94] The lions of Savuti, Botswana, have adapted to hunting young elephants during the dry season, and a pride of 30 lions has been recorded killing individuals between the ages of four and eleven years.[102] Lions also attack domestic livestock and in India cattle contribute significantly to their diet.[74][96] Unusual prey items include porcupines and small reptiles. Lions will kill other predators such as leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas, but they seldom devour them.[103]