Captive diet
Appropriate diets and rations
Lions are obligate carnivores and have a fundamental requirement for high levels of protein including several specific amino acids. Captive lions should be fed whole carcasses of animals in order to obtain all nutritional requirements, specifically those they are unable to synthesize in the body. This includes the liver, which contains vitamin A, body fat providing vitamin D and the bones as a source of calcium (Hines, n.d). The skin and fur of a carcass should also be left in tact to aid with oral hygiene and prevention of palatine erosion (perforation of the the palate) (Fitch & Fagan, 1982). If whole carcass is unavailable and is supplemented with meat only, additional supplements should be added to the diet; for example calcium to replace bones and vitamin supplements if liver is not provided. Supplements should also be added if animals frequently do not consume all or aspects of the carcass provided.
Meat should be fresh, not stale or cooked, to ensure provision of taurine. Taurine is an essential amino acid for felids as they are unable to synthesize it in the liver (Hedburg et al, 2007). A deficiency in felids can lead to Central Retinal Degeneration (CRD), alongside reproductive and developmental impairments (MacDonald et al, 1984).
See the Nutritional Requirements page for more information:
Lions are obligate carnivores and have a fundamental requirement for high levels of protein including several specific amino acids. Captive lions should be fed whole carcasses of animals in order to obtain all nutritional requirements, specifically those they are unable to synthesize in the body. This includes the liver, which contains vitamin A, body fat providing vitamin D and the bones as a source of calcium (Hines, n.d). The skin and fur of a carcass should also be left in tact to aid with oral hygiene and prevention of palatine erosion (perforation of the the palate) (Fitch & Fagan, 1982). If whole carcass is unavailable and is supplemented with meat only, additional supplements should be added to the diet; for example calcium to replace bones and vitamin supplements if liver is not provided. Supplements should also be added if animals frequently do not consume all or aspects of the carcass provided.
Meat should be fresh, not stale or cooked, to ensure provision of taurine. Taurine is an essential amino acid for felids as they are unable to synthesize it in the liver (Hedburg et al, 2007). A deficiency in felids can lead to Central Retinal Degeneration (CRD), alongside reproductive and developmental impairments (MacDonald et al, 1984).
See the Nutritional Requirements page for more information:
Preparation and Storage
Formulation, preparation and delivery of the diet must be a quality and quantity suitable for the animals physiological and behavioural needs. Meat should be sourced from reliable and sustainable sources and a nutritional analysis of the food should be regularly completed. The nutritional status of carnivores is dependent not only on the type of prey, but also the quality of diet fed to the prey itself (Klum et al, 1996), reinforcing the importance of obtaining meat from reliable sources.
Raw meat should be stored in the fridge if to be consumed within 24 hours. Alternatively meat should be stored in a freezer, where temperature should be maintained between -18 and -30°C (Crissey et al, 2001). Meat should be fed soon after thawing whilst chilled, but not frozen (Crissey et al, 2001). Any that is not consumed within 12 hours (maximum) should be discarded.
Formulation, preparation and delivery of the diet must be a quality and quantity suitable for the animals physiological and behavioural needs. Meat should be sourced from reliable and sustainable sources and a nutritional analysis of the food should be regularly completed. The nutritional status of carnivores is dependent not only on the type of prey, but also the quality of diet fed to the prey itself (Klum et al, 1996), reinforcing the importance of obtaining meat from reliable sources.
Raw meat should be stored in the fridge if to be consumed within 24 hours. Alternatively meat should be stored in a freezer, where temperature should be maintained between -18 and -30°C (Crissey et al, 2001). Meat should be fed soon after thawing whilst chilled, but not frozen (Crissey et al, 2001). Any that is not consumed within 12 hours (maximum) should be discarded.
Presentation of food
Meat should be presented at varying times of day and at different locations within the enclosure, therefore reducing predictability and activating some natural instincts whilst keeping lions mentally and physically stimulated. Meat could be hidden under rocks, in paper bags or suspended from a feeding platform or tree.
Water should be available at all times within watering devices that are built into the enclosure. The water source should be emptied and cleaned daily as many felid species will urinate and defecate in water bowls (AZA, 2012).
Meat should be presented at varying times of day and at different locations within the enclosure, therefore reducing predictability and activating some natural instincts whilst keeping lions mentally and physically stimulated. Meat could be hidden under rocks, in paper bags or suspended from a feeding platform or tree.
Water should be available at all times within watering devices that are built into the enclosure. The water source should be emptied and cleaned daily as many felid species will urinate and defecate in water bowls (AZA, 2012).
Feeding Regimes
Feeding should be based on the 'gorge-fast' model as proposed by Alltman, 2005, which has been proven beneficial to captive lions both psychologically and behaviourally. Irregular feeding significantly improves digestibility of fat, protein and dry matter (Altman, 2005), resulting in weight reduction in captive lions to that which is similar to wild lions (Altman, 2005; Schaller, 1972). The importance of an irregular feeding schedule has been demonstrated as lions on a fixed 3 day cycle were more likely to show undesirable behaviours, such as pacing, on fasting days (Lyons et al, 1997).
Carnivores have hind gut fermentation of poorly enzymatically digestible tissues, including skin, bones and cartilage (Depauw et al, 2013), which results in slow release leptin, i.e. they feel fuller for longer. Therefore fasting days do not result in feelings of hunger, providing that whole carcass meat is given (Janssen, 2010).
Feeding should be based on the 'gorge-fast' model as proposed by Alltman, 2005, which has been proven beneficial to captive lions both psychologically and behaviourally. Irregular feeding significantly improves digestibility of fat, protein and dry matter (Altman, 2005), resulting in weight reduction in captive lions to that which is similar to wild lions (Altman, 2005; Schaller, 1972). The importance of an irregular feeding schedule has been demonstrated as lions on a fixed 3 day cycle were more likely to show undesirable behaviours, such as pacing, on fasting days (Lyons et al, 1997).
Carnivores have hind gut fermentation of poorly enzymatically digestible tissues, including skin, bones and cartilage (Depauw et al, 2013), which results in slow release leptin, i.e. they feel fuller for longer. Therefore fasting days do not result in feelings of hunger, providing that whole carcass meat is given (Janssen, 2010).