"Do lions develop a taste for specific prey species?" I was asked this question during a safari, while we watched a pride of lions feeding on an elephant carcass. The elephant had probably died of old age and the lions, known for their scavenging, had picked up the scent of the carcass.
I've observed lions feeding on elephants on numerous occasions. In most of these incidents the elephant had been an adult.
At the time, this led me to presume that the elephant had died of old age, but was this really the case? A much more intriguing question lay at the heart of this encounter. Could the Savuti pride have potentially brought down an adult elephant?
Hunting and scavenging
Throughout the wilderness areas of Africa there are lion prides that specialize in killing certain prey species. This specialization has developed over time, arising from the availability of prey, terrain, adaptability and the effects of different seasons. Some prides will specialize in buffalo, some in smaller antelope, and other prides will rely mostly on scavenging for their food.
In most parts of Africa, elephants will generally chase lions when they come across them. There is one notable exception. In Botswana there is a pride of lions that hunt and kill adult elephants!
David hunts Goliath
In some areas, lions have been recorded preying on young elephants. When it came to adult elephants, however, it was always believed that they were too large to be preyed on by lions. So how did this Savuti pride develop the technique to kill adult elephants, and why did this technique develop in the first place?
Lions scavenge when they get the opportunity, often stealing prey from other predators. At a large carcass such as an adult elephant, lions will spend more than a week feeding. I have personally witnessed a pride feeding on an elephant carcass for eight days.
The Savuti region of Botswana is home to many bull elephants of varying ages (including some very old ones) and it was not uncommon for a weak and elderly elephant to fall down, unable to get back up.
Lions scavenge when they get the opportunity and at a large carcass such as an adult elephant they will spend more than a week feeding.[/p]
Death of an elephant
Journal entry, 1995
An old elephant bull went down near Pump Pan, in Chobe, early yesterday. Not long after, a pride arrived on the scene. The elephant had been trying to get up but was too weak. With the pride's arrival the old bull's attempts became increasingly frantic and panicked. Other elephants attempted to chase the lions off but each time the pride would back off a little only to return. The lions began to eat the still-living elephant from the rear end.
The drama continued through the night and into the next day until eventually, after many ever-weakening attempts at getting up, the elephant died. The lions had gorged themselves while the elephant was still alive.
Answers
My response to the initial question regarding the development of taste for prey, is simple. Lions specialize in killing certain prey because, circumstance and survival dictate this change. As predators, they adapt to available prey. It's not so much a matter of taste as a matter of survival
With respect to the Savuti pride, I propose the following theory. Could the above incident be the explaining catalyst for the present hunting methods of the Savuti pride?
Perhaps the the elephant's death throes brought to the surface memories of ancient predatory behaviour. Alternatively, the elephant death could merely have become an opportunity for the pride to realize that they had the means to hunt elephant?
During my first visit to Botswana, I was fortunate enough to spend 2 thrilling nights within the Savute Wildlife Reserve. My stay at Savute Safari Lodge, although short...was unforgettable!The region, stark yet pristine with red sand, arid bush and golden savannah grasses blew me away. The harsh, flat terrain is a predators dream!
On my first game drive and whilst enjoying a JD at one of three man-made watering holes - Pump Pan, I was lucky enough to view 5 of the 36 'Rough & Tough' Savuti Pride (at the time) of lions crouched in thick bush and brush carefully watching the elephants wade in the water.They had a small baby elephant with them and had surrounded the baby to protect him from the lions, which I am certain they knew where close by. After spending about 20 minutes at the waterhole, the sun setting a violent orange, I noticed three stray zebra and a single black backed jackal strutting over to the waterhole for some water.
It was beginning to get very 'squished' both in and around the waterhole, when I noticed 3 of the Savuti lions slowly creeping towards the waterhole in a crouching position. By now we had moved from standing next to the vehicle, to sitting back in the vehicle because as we looked around, the sun dimming more and more - we realised that to our right, we could count 28 lions in the shrub and bush. Now having spent maybe 25 minutes at the waterhole, I turned instinctively to my left, away from the pride of Savuti lion. I noticed that the elephant calf was now getting out of the water and attempting to climb the small bank, leading away from Pump Pan.
The baby was on it's own although not to far from the other elephants, but enough to make me very nervous as I saw the 3 rugged lion creep towards the baby elephant around the back of our vehicle, the larger elephant unaware of these lion now approaching from the side. I wanted to shout out to baby elephant to run back into the herd, but sat there silently, unable to move and clicking away with my camera - certain that I was going to view my 'first kill'.
The whole area around the waterhole became completely silent as the black backed jackal moved off (maybe knowing what was about to happen) the birds in the trees no longer squawking. The three lions were moving closer, now about 20 metres from the baby elephant. What I then thought was an eternity, but was only probably only a couple of seconds later - I saw the elephant heard turn around and make a dash for the baby elephant at the same time two of the lions also went for the baby!!
I had not realized that elephants, such large, heavy and majestic animals could move so fast. Within three or four seconds, three elephants had surrounded the baby elephant, four other elephants charging through the sand at the lions. It was furry of trumpeting and sand clouds everywhere, before we were able to see the three Savuti lion run off into the bush, back to the safety of their larger pride.Although I know all animals must eat, I was relieved to see the baby elephant once again safe. We headed back to the lodge just as the sun set, in time for dinner and excited to reveal our exploits with the other guests.
In the early hours of the following morning, I hear a terrible deep moan that lasted three hours and knew instinctively that the lions had finally got an elephant. My fear was that it was the baby elephant, however I learnt the next morning that it was a 10 year old adolescent that had strayed briefly for the rest of the herd. The Savuti pride of 36 gorged on this elephant carcass for 3 days following my departure.