Profitability, encounter rates, and prey choice of African lions

The prey preferences of African lions (Panthera leo) in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, were examined in three ways. First, lion encounter rates with prey types were measured and compared with a random sample of the prey population. Lions encountered more wart hogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), Grant's gazelles (Gazella granti), wildebeests (ConnochaeUs taurinus), and zebras (Equus burchelli) than expected. Second, preferred prey types of lions were identified using conditional logit analysis. Lions preferred to hunt small prey groups, groups that were closer than 200 m, and groups that contained wart hogs, wildebeests, or zebras. Third, a risk-minimization optimal foraging model and a rate-maximization model were used to predict lion preferences. The foraging theory models predict that preferences should change with season and with lion group size. Qualitative support was found for most of these predictions.