Big Cats

[jimmy olsen]

Lions hunting elephants

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2lU8HcxIAw8#!

So not impressed. a pride of lions killing baby elephants?

They're between 4 and 15 years of age, hardly babies.
http://johnhawks.net/weblog/reviews/life_history/risk/lion_elephant_predation_2006.html

A pride takes down a full grown giraffe at the end of this documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKgoSG4QJxM

[jimmy olsen]

So why do Lions live in prides?

Cooperative hunting? Communal suckling of cubs?

Nope, it's fear of other Lions taking their territory, how very human like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9RugZwVhzo

[Jaron]

Humans are afraid of lions taking their territory?

[jimmy olsen]

Humans are afraid of lions taking their territory?

The fear of their own species taking their territory.

[Jaron]

Lions hunting elephants

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2lU8HcxIAw8#!

So not impressed. a pride of lions killing baby elephants?

They're between 4 and 15 years of age, hardly babies.
http://johnhawks.net/weblog/reviews/life_history/risk/lion_elephant_predation_2006.html

A pride takes down a full grown giraffe at the end of this documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKgoSG4QJxM

You're full of it. Your article is about lions attacking sick, weak, or preadult elephants. That is hardly surprising or a feat for a large group of lions.

[jimmy olsen]

A quick survey of the net says that a six year old elephant will weigh 600 kilos, a ten year old will weigh 1200 kilos, a 15 year old 1600 kilos. Those are big animals, and the ability of Lions (typically 120-200 kilos) to kill them is still impressive.

[jimmy olsen]

pdf link Lion predation on elephants in the Savuti,
Chobe National Park, Botswana

Adult lions weigh, on average, 190 and 126 kg
in males and females, respectively (Smuts 1982;
Skinner & Smithers 1990), and adult elephant
males and females weigh six and four tonnes
respectively (Skinner & Smithers 1990), while the
subadults weigh less than half the weight of the
females. This ratio of between 1:10–15, is certainly
the largest predator to prey weight ratio known
among terrestrial mammals (e.g. Packer 1986).

[Eddie Teach]

Not true, humans also hunt elephants. (Not to mention whales, as you did specify land animals)

[jimmy olsen]

Not true, humans also hunt elephants. (Not to mention whales, as you did specify land animals)

While true, it hardly seems a fair comparison. Humans are better than most animals at what they do, it doesn't mean that the ability is not impressive.

[The Brain]

There is much to be learnt from beasts.

[Jaron]

That doesn't really seem fair though, Tim.

It isn't a single lion going after an elephant. They're like a African street gang.

[Ed Anger]

There is much to be learnt from beasts.

Neigh

[jimmy olsen]

There is much to be learnt from beasts.

Neigh

Jaron - That's what makes them better than Tigers. Tigers may be a little larger, but Lions are smarter.

[CountDeMoney]

I wish a pride would collectively spray Timmay, marking him as a moron.

[Ideologue]

Doesn't really matter which is coolest, they'll all disappear from the face of the planet within decades anyway.

Save your tears for animals whose existence doesn't involve slaughter.

Gotta go feed my cats.