A new Australian study suggests that zoo lions behave more like their wild counterparts when they are given whole animal carcasses as part of a feast and fast feeding schedule.
Published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, the research was conducted by Adelaide University and Monarto Safari Park in South Australia. Scientists studied a group of adult male African lions after animal care staff added whole carcasses every nine days to an existing feeding routine designed around periods of eating and fasting.
Continuous video monitoring over three months showed that the lions spent much more time eating when carcasses were provided, rested for longer afterward, and gradually became more active as the fasting period continued. Together, these patterns more closely resembled the natural feeding cycles seen in wild lions.
Lead author Lesia Hryhorenko from Adelaide University’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences said the study provides new information about how feeding routines can shape the behavior of carnivores living in human care.
“Wild lions don’t eat at the same time every day. They experience natural periods of feasting and fasting depending on hunting success,” Hryhorenko said.
“We wanted to understand how African lions in human care respond when feeding routines more closely resemble those natural patterns.”
Tracking Lions Around the Clock
The research team – which included visiting Belgium Masters student Florence Demoulin from the University of Liege – observed three adult male lions at Monarto Safari Park before and after whole carcasses were introduced.
During the experimental phase, the three lions received approximately 200 kilograms of carcasses. The food was left available for as long as three days, after which the lions entered a period of rest and digestion.
Researchers used eight infrared cameras to record the animals continuously. This produced one of the most detailed 24 hour datasets yet assembled for African lions in human care under a carcass feeding regime.
The difference on carcass feeding days was substantial. The lions spent almost three times as long eating as they typically did. They also fed more frequently and for longer stretches as they tore apart, pulled at, manipulated, and consumed the carcasses.
These activities gave the animals more opportunities to perform the kinds of feeding behaviors that are part of life in the wild.
A Natural Feast and Fast Rhythm
Once the lions had finished feeding, they spent considerably more time lying down and resting. As the fasting period went on, their movement gradually increased again.
This repeating pattern of intense feeding, extended rest, and rising activity closely matched the feast and fast rhythm documented among wild lion populations.
“Providing whole carcasses changes much more than the nutritional content of the diet,” Hryhorenko said.
“It gives lions the opportunity to engage in behaviors such as tearing, pulling and manipulating food over extended periods, which are important components of their natural feeding ecology.”
Pacing Appears Linked to Routine, Not Hunger
The researchers also tracked pacing, a repetitive behavior in carnivores that is often linked to anticipation.
Pacing increased slightly over the study period, but it did not consistently rise as the lions went longer without food. Instead, the largest increases occurred around predictable events such as keeper arrivals and times when the animals were moved between areas of their habitat.
That pattern suggests pacing may have been more strongly connected to familiar daily routines and the expectation of feeding than to hunger itself.
The researchers also found no increase in aggression or disruption to the lions’ social stability during whole carcass feeding events.
Co-author Associate Professor Alexandra Whittaker said the findings demonstrate why animal behavior needs to be monitored over longer periods when researchers evaluate zoo management practices.
“Many zoo studies focus only on what happens immediately after food is provided,” Associate Professor Whittaker said.
“Our results show that feeding schedules can influence behavior for days afterwards, making it essential to look at behavioral patterns across the entire feeding cycle rather than a single feeding event.”
The researchers say future work could combine behavioral monitoring with physiological measurements to provide a more complete picture of how different feeding strategies affect animal welfare and well-being.
