Lions From Namibia That Hunt In The Sea
The wildcat family includes highly adaptable predators, but few can imagine lions hunting in the ocean. However, there is a pride of lions on the desert coast of Namibia that have a very strange diet.
Lions that hunt in the sea
A study published in the Namibian Journal of Environment has shown that there are at least two prides of lions that hunt their food in the ocean.
Scientists believe that the lions that hunt in the ocean will even eat crustaceans because they saw them dig in the sand in search of food.
This diet has not yet been documented, but it is believed that it will be there soon.
In the extreme climate of Namibia, lions and other animals find it difficult to survive. In addition, the cats were hunted for a long time due to conflicts with cattle farmers, which is why the species had to move their habitat to a very barren area.
But it is not the first time that the lions have been surprised as they hunt seals. This was noticed as early as 2006, but at the time it was thought that it was just a coincidence and not that the seals became the common food of the predators.
Nowadays it seems that the lions that hunt in the sea are no longer just anecdote, but that the animals have adapted their diet to their circumstances.
The hunt for seals is of particular interest to the scientists, as it has otherwise only been observed in a large species of predator, the polar bear.
The desert lions
However, one must also bear in mind that there is another species of lion in Namibia that also lives in extreme circumstances.
In the north of the country, far from the coast, there are the so-called desert lions. In the Namib Desert there are also animals of this species that have to do without water for a long time.
They meet their fluid requirements mainly through the blood and muscle meat of their prey.
Interestingly, many of the lions in Namibia are different from those found in the rest of Africa. Their fur is thicker so that they can survive the cold desert nights and they appear thinner than their fellow species from other regions.
In addition , the lions of this region live in smaller packs and have a larger territory, which is why they have to move more. However, no infanticide has yet been noticed, which is very common among lions of the savannah.
Even if Namibia is one of the least populated areas in the world, these predators have had to face conflicts with farmers and extreme weather conditions. Many people there still use poison to kill animals.
Therefore, it is believed that the desert lions and those that hunt in the sea will soon disappear. What will happen to the Lions of Namibia?
