Hilariously Sassy Lioness Fiercely Guards Her Meal From Her Sister

Lionesses may be prepared to work together to bring down a kill, but when it comes to eating – it’s every woman for herself! In this hilarious clip, you can see one female lion draped on top of a large section of a carcass. Her sister is trying to get it out from underneath her but she has no intention of moving and relinquishing this portion of the kill. This lioness does not feel like cooperating.

Don’t Miss This Amusing Interaction in the Clip Below

How Do Lions Normally Behave?

Female lions get on very well together. They live in groups called prides which usually consist of related females and their offspring. Females usually defend the core area of the pride’s territory whilst the males patrol the outskirts. Scientists have not noted any dominance hierarchies amongst the females who often give birth at the same time. They work together to raise their young in what is called a creche system. By working together in this way, they give themselves the best chance of survival and protect themselves from injury. Fights can break out within the pride but they are usually very short-lived and end amicably.

How Do Lions Normally Eat?

Lions both hunt for themselves and scavenge food from other predators. Once the prey has been secured, there is a strict hierarchy attached to how they feed. Adult males get the first go at the carcass and they can eat up to 88 pounds of meat at a time. This equates to a full quarter of their body weight! Next, the adult females get to feed and they eat around 31 pounds of food a day. Finally, the cubs will get to eat what is left.

Lions often stand guard at their kill sites if the carcass is too big to be consumed in a single meal. At other times, they abandon the kill and let other scavengers such as hyenas take over.

Lions eat as much of the muscle as they can tear from the bones. However, they do not eat the digestive organs, horns, or teeth. We know that lions do eat the hair of their prey because this has been found in their feces. Lion intestines are not that efficient at breaking down proteins and so a lot of it passes out in their feces. This is why lion poop is often consumed by other carnivores including foxes, hyenas, and vultures.