Lions are known for their cautious stalking approach to hunting, and in the wild they primarily eat large mammals such as zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and antelope. They may also eat smaller animals such as rodents and reptiles when food is scarce - so it’s lucky for the mouse in The Lion Inside board book that the lion isn’t hungry when he visits! But since zebra is rarely on the menu in zoos and big cat sanctuaries, what do lions eat in captivity? 

What lions eat in the zoo

Lions are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet must consist of at least 70% meat in order for their nutritional needs to be met. The diet of a lion in captivity depends on where it is being kept, but on the whole they eat commercially sourced meat. 

Some zoos feed their lions ground beef or horse, which has been commercially formulated to include all the nutrients that cats require. This is often supplemented with knucklebones or beef femurs twice a week, as well as whole rabbits or other animals once a week, which exercises their jaws and cleans their teeth. Feeding whole animals to lions also helps with enrichment, encouraging them to behave as they would in the wild. 

Other zoos feed lions with chunks of beef or horse meat supplemented with beef ribs and the carcasses of deer, goats, sheep or even chickens and turkeys. 

Feeding patterns

In the wild, lions will hunt every few days. Once a kill is made, they will eat their fill then rest until it’s time to hunt again. Many zoos and big cat sanctuaries follow this pattern, giving lions a scheduled number of ‘starve’ days each week. This might range between two or five days depending on the latest research and the policy of the zoo.  

Interestingly, a 2019 study of lion behaviour in zoos showed that lions were more active on fasting days than feeding days, engaging in more exploratory, maintenance, marking and social behaviour. It also noted that feeding on a whole carcass gave lions on a low frequency feeding programme the opportunity to resolve social discrepancies, reducing aggression between feeds. 

Another study published in 2024 indicates that randomising feeding - where lions are fed at different times rather than according to a fixed schedule - can reduce frustration or boredom, helping to prevent pacing and other anticipatory behaviours.  

Discover The Lion Inside

If you love to see lions in the zoo and read about them in stories, head to London this April to see the stage adaptation of The Lion Inside book. Telling the tale of a mouse who decides to visit a lion and find his roar, it uses puppetry, songs and interactive moments to captivate children and their families. The show is fully approved by The Lion Inside author, Rachel Bright, and is playing at the Southbank Centre from 16-20 April 2025. It’s suitable for kids aged three and up, being just 55 minutes long with no interval. Book your tickets today to enjoy this sensational experience!