Introduction
The question of whether wild dogs hunt lions is an intriguing one. Both African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and lions (Panthera leo) are apex predators that occupy similar habitats across sub-Saharan Africa. Though direct confrontations are rare, there have been some documented instances of wild dog packs attacking and even killing lion prides.
African wild dogs, also called painted wolves or Cape hunting dogs, are highly social and cooperative hunters that live in packs numbering from 10 to 40 individuals. They are efficient hunters of antelope and other medium-sized prey. Lions are also social, living in prides led by a dominant male coalition. Though lions take on larger prey like buffalo and giraffe, they also feed on similar antelope species as wild dogs.
This dietary and habitat overlap means that lions and wild dogs will encounter each other in the African wilderness. These interactions are most often dominated by lions, though wild dogs have been observed harassing solitary lions or small prides. In rarer cases, large packs of wild dogs have been documented attacking and killing lions, especially younger or weaker individuals separated from their pride.
This content will examine documented cases of wild dog attacks on lions, analyze the conditions that may motivate such attacks, and look at the overall relationship between these two African apex predators.
Wild Dog Packs
African wild dogs live in packs that can have anywhere from 2 to 60 members, with an average pack size of 7 to 15 dogs (African wild dog). They have a complex social structure with a dominance hierarchy led by an alpha male and female. Wild dogs are cooperative hunters that work together to chase down and kill prey. Their hunting success rate is up to 60% – the highest of any large social predator in Africa (Top 10 Facts About African Wild Dogs).
Wild dogs typically hunt antelope such as gazelles, impalas, and kudus, relying on their endurance, teamwork, and speed to exhaust and isolate individual members of the herd. A pack will chase prey at up to 66 km/hr for 5 km or more until the animal collapses from exhaustion. The dogs then swiftly disembowel and kill the animal (Top 10 Facts About African Wild Dogs).
Lion Prides
Lion prides are complex social groups typically composed of related females, their cubs, and a coalition of 2-3 adult males who mate with the females. Pride sizes can range from as few as 3 members to over 40 animals, with an average of around 15 lions in a pride (https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/lion).
Lionesses and their cubs form the core of the pride and usually stay together for life. They work cooperatively to hunt prey and defend their territory against rival prides or intruders. Males eventually leave the pride while females remain in their natal group. The adult males in a pride are usually related and form a defensive coalition to protect the pride from takeovers by other males (https://www.wildandfreefoundation.org/wff-logbook-blog/how-do-lion-prides-work).
Lions within a pride depend on each other for defense against predators. They utilize various techniques like mobbing, roaring, and flanking to drive off intruders and threats. Their unity and coordination is a key component of pride defense and territorial protection.
Documented Wild Dog Attacks
There are several documented cases of wild dog packs attacking and killing lions. In one instance in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a pack of 20 wild dogs brought down an adult lioness. The attack was witnessed by safari guides, who observed the dogs pursuing the lioness for over an hour across open plains until they finally overpowered her through exhaustion. She suffered numerous bite wounds and was eventually killed by the wild dog pack. The guides speculated that the old, lone lioness was targeted due to vulnerability.
Another incident occurred in Kruger National Park, South Africa in 2017. Guides came across the remains of a lion cub that appeared to have been attacked and consumed by a large pack of wild dogs. The cub’s paws and head were untouched, indicating that it had been alive when attacked and was not merely scavenged. Park officials determined wild dogs were the likely culprits based on bite marks and behavior patterns.
In the Serengeti in Tanzania, researchers have documented at least 3 separate incidents of wild dog packs attacking and killing juvenile and subadult lions. In one case, a pack of over 20 wild dogs brought down a 2-year old lion after wearing it down through multiple attacks over several hours. These cases provide clear evidence that coordinated attacks by large wild dog packs can successfully take down lions under the right circumstances.
Why Wild Dogs Might Attack
There are a few key reasons why African wild dogs may attack and even kill lions, despite the risks involved. Two of the main motivations are competition for prey and territory disputes.
African wild dogs are highly effective cooperative hunters that rely on large antelope and other herbivores as their main food source. However, these prey species are also targeted by lions. With overlapping territories, limited resources, and direct competition for food, conflicts can arise between wild dog packs and prides of lions [1].
To reduce competition over prey, African wild dogs may mount group attacks against lions to try to eliminate them from contested hunting grounds. While risky, removing the lions can give the wild dogs exclusive access to prey animals in certain areas. Battles over territory and resources frequently occur between top predators like lions and wild dogs sharing the same ecological niche.
In addition to hunting grounds, African wild dogs are highly territorial over their home ranges and core dens where pups are raised. Lions venturing into areas claimed by wild dogs may be met with aggressive defense of territory. Fighting off lions preemptively can help wild dogs protect their offspring and maintain control of resources within established boundaries.
Lion Defensive Abilities
Lions have several strengths and defensive tactics that help protect them against attacks from wild dogs. Male lions are substantially larger and stronger than individual wild dogs, with males weighing over 400 pounds compared to around 50 pounds for a wild dog. Lions have powerful forelimbs with claws that can inflict serious wounds in a swipe. Their mane also offers protection for their neck from biting attacks.
When threatened by a pack of wild dogs, lions will initially respond with intimidation behaviors like growling, roaring, or charging at the dogs. These displays of aggression are often enough to make the wild dogs back down. If a physical confrontation ensues, the lion will use its large paws and claws to strike and swat at the dogs, keeping them at bay. The lion may also bite dogs that get within reach. Here is footage showing a male lion fending off a wild dog attack using its impressive strength and intimidation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCmxfX5KY1E
Lionesses are not as large or strong as male lions, so depend more on group defense when facing wild dogs. Multiple lionesses defending their young together are usually sufficient to drive away a wild dog pack.
Outcomes of Encounters
Studies show that encounters between wild dogs and lions frequently result in injuries and deaths, though success rates vary. One analysis found that in 56% of interactions, the wild dogs were driven off or retreated from the lions (Source). In 20% of encounters, the wild dogs succeeded in taking a lion kill. However, these successes came at a cost – around one in four wild dogs involved were injured or killed. Overall, wild dogs suffer heavy casualties when confronting lions over a kill, with one study finding mortality rates of 28% for adult dogs and 60% for pups (Source).
Lions are well equipped to defend themselves, with powerful jaws, claws, and greater average size and strength compared to wild dogs. However, wild dogs can utilize pack tactics, distraction, and repeated attacks to overwhelm solitary lions. Outcomes frequently depend on the number of dogs versus lions in an encounter. While small packs may be driven off, larger packs of 10 or more can successfully take lion kills, though often with losses. Overall the consensus is that confrontations with lions pose a major mortality risk for wild dogs.
Geographic Overlap
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and lions (Panthera leo) occupy overlapping geographic ranges across sub-Saharan Africa. Both species favor savanna and open woodland habitats. This overlap leads to inevitable interactions and conflict between wild dog packs and lion prides as they compete for prey species like impala, kudu, and wildebeest. According to a recent study, wild dogs proactively reduce their movements in areas with high lion densities in order to avoid encounters. However, across their range, the two species still frequently come into contact while hunting and marking territory.
Conservation Impacts
Interactions between wild dogs and lions can significantly affect the populations and conservation status of both species. Lions are a major source of mortality for wild dogs, and wild dog packs have been documented to decline and even disappear from areas after an influx of lions (Groom et al., 2017). This is concerning given that African wild dogs are endangered, with only about 6,600 adults remaining in the wild. Lions outcompete wild dogs and suppress their populations through both direct killing and by taking over prime habitat and prey resources.
At the same time, healthy populations of wild dogs can also reduce lion abundance and reproductive success, especially in areas where lion densities are not yet saturated (Groom et al., 2017). However, since lions are less endangered than wild dogs, the asymmetric competition tends to have a greater detrimental impact on wild dog conservation. Understanding these complex interactions and accounting for lion densities is important for effective management and protection of endangered wild dog populations across Africa.
Conclusions
In summary, while wild dog packs do occasionally go after lone, weak, or injured lions, especially lion cubs, they generally avoid direct confrontation with healthy adult lions. Lions are capable of defending themselves and their prides from wild dog attacks through their greater size, strength, and formidable weaponry such as teeth and claws. Direct conflicts usually result in the wild dogs retreating. However, both species face threats from habitat loss and require conservation efforts across their overlapping ranges in sub-Saharan Africa. With strategic initiatives, these iconic African predators can coexist on the landscape while maintaining healthy populations.
Though dramatic confrontations between wild dogs and lions are sometimes documented, outright attacks by wild dogs are relatively rare. More research is needed to fully understand the dynamics and outcomes of these interactions. By protecting habitat corridors and preventing human-wildlife conflict, conservationists can enable these wide-ranging carnivores to fulfill their ecological roles without resorting to inter-species combat.
