What are lions given to eat at the Zoo?

The Smithsonian's National Zoo's lions eat ground beef, which is commercially produced to meet the nutritional needs of carnivores. Twice a week, they receive knucklebones or beef femurs, and once a week they receive rabbits, which exercise the cats' teeth and jaws. Lions are the world's most social felines.



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Reptiles, birds and smaller mammal species are fed whole prey including mice, rabbits and fish. African lions, cheetahs, vultures and other carnivores are fed portions of whole carcasses. As with all food for the Zoo's animals, the meat comes from reputable USDA-inspected facilities.

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Many animals at the Zoo receive whole prey in their diets. Reptiles, birds and smaller mammal species are fed whole prey including mice, rabbits and fish. African lions, cheetahs, vultures and other carnivores are fed portions of whole carcasses.

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MYTH 4: Animals in Zoos are happy. Animals in captivity across the globe have been documented displaying signs of anxiety and depression. In fact, psychological distress in zoo animals is so common that it has its own name: Zoochosis.

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After an animal dies, a necropsy is done to determine a specific cause of death to list beyond simply euthanasia, and the results are added to the animal's permanent file. Once this testing is completed, the remains of the animal are cremated.

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That captivity can be REALLY bad for both physical AND psychological health. And while zoos have been really helpful is saving endangered animals, it doesn't work out for certain species. For example, most large carnivores like lions and tigers that are bred in captivity die when released into the wild.

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Zoos follow a fundamental principle: You can't sell or buy the animals. It's unethical and illegal to put a price tag on an elephant's head. But money is really useful — it lets you know who wants something and how much they want it.

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