How Whole Carcasses Changed Zoo Lions’ Feeding Behaviour

A three-month study found that whole carcasses and longer gaps between meals changed how a group of zoo lions ate, rested and moved.

ScienceOctober 8, 20263 min readHow Sureno writes this

The short version

A study of adult male African lions found that adding whole carcasses every nine days led them to spend nearly three times longer feeding than under the existing routine. ¹
The lions rested more after eating and gradually became more active as the fasting period continued. ¹
Researchers said these patterns resembled the feeding rhythm of wild lions, but the study involved one group at one park over three months. ¹
A separate case study examined random feeding schedules and pacing in Asiatic lions, but the supplied source does not provide its results. ²

What changed in the lions’ feeding routine?

Animal care staff added whole animal carcasses to the lions’ existing feeding routine. The carcasses were provided every nine days, as part of a schedule involving periods of eating and fasting. ¹

The study followed adult male African lions at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia. Researchers recorded their behaviour with continuous video monitoring over three months. ¹

How did the lions’ behaviour change?

When given whole carcasses, the lions spent nearly three times longer feeding. They also did more tearing and handling of the food, rather than simply eating it. ¹

After a meal, the lions rested more. Their activity then increased gradually during the fasting period. The researchers said this pattern more closely resembled the natural feeding rhythm of wild lions. ¹

Why might whole carcasses matter for zoo care?

The findings suggest that what food is provided, and how often it is offered, can shape the behaviour of carnivores in human care. A carcass can take longer to eat and involve more food-handling behaviour than a meal presented in another form. ¹

That makes feeding routines one area animal-care teams can consider when trying to support natural behaviour. The study does not establish that this schedule is right for every lion or zoo, and it does not report whether the routine improved the lions’ overall welfare. ¹

Does an irregular schedule affect pacing too?

A 2024 case study looked at whether changing feeding days might affect pacing in captive Asiatic lions at Rotterdam Zoo. It compared two fixed feeding days per week with two semi-randomly chosen feeding days. ²

The source describes the question and study design, but does not provide the findings. It therefore cannot show whether random feeding reduced pacing in those lions. That study also examined a different species and a different change to the feeding routine. ²

What remains uncertain about the findings?

The Australian study offers evidence about one group of adult male African lions observed for three months. The supplied summary does not give the number of lions, detailed comparison measurements, or evidence about longer-term effects. ¹

It also does not establish whether the same results would occur in other lions, with different feeding arrangements, or in other zoo settings. The findings are a useful indication that feeding routines can influence behaviour, not a complete guide to zoo animal care. ¹

What we don't know yet

How many lions were included in the Australian study is not stated in the supplied source summary. ¹
The supplied summary does not describe detailed comparison results or the lions’ longer-term welfare. ¹
The supplied information on the Asiatic-lion pacing study gives its methods but not its results. ²

New discoveries on every new tab

Sureno Browser puts explainers like this one on your start page every morning, in plain words.

Get Sureno for Mac

Questions people ask

Did whole carcasses make zoo lions act more like wild lions?

In the Australian study, lions fed whole carcasses spent longer eating, rested more after meals and became more active as the fasting period went on. Researchers said these patterns more closely resembled wild lions’ feeding rhythm. ¹

How often were the carcasses given to the lions?

Animal care staff added whole carcasses every nine days to an existing routine involving eating and fasting periods. The study followed adult male African lions at Monarto Safari Park. ¹

How long did researchers observe the lions?

Researchers monitored the lions continuously on video for three months. The supplied summary does not state the number of animals in the group. ¹

Can changing feeding times reduce pacing in lions?

A separate case study compared fixed and semi-random feeding days for captive Asiatic lions at Rotterdam Zoo. The supplied source describes the study design but does not give its results, so it does not establish whether pacing decreased. ²

Sources

Scientists changed how zoo lions eat. Their wild side came out — ScienceDaily
Effects of Random Feeding Schedule on Pacing in Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persicus). — Zoo biology, 2024 Nov-Dec

Free tools for this

They run in your browser. Nothing is uploaded and there is nothing to sign up for.

Reaction time testHow fast you click when the box turns green.