Why do lions prefer to hunt porcupines whether they can be hurt or die of porcupine?

In many battles between lions and porcupines, most lions are losers and suffer from the most sharp spikes. Interestingly, despite being injured, the lion still likes to attack porcupines. Why is that?

According to ScienceDaily , scientists have conducted research on the relationship between porcupines and lions to have a clearer view of the laws of evolution. Lions are high-level mammals, a ferocious hunter and few enemies. But much smaller porcupines can create a big advantage before the species known as the "forest god".

The porcupine lions can stem from objective causes.

Researchers from Roosevelt University have investigated the contact history between lions and porcupines to find out why lions are always attracted to porcupines and why porcupines often win against lions.

The study uses materials on YouTube and literature. Julian Kerbis Peterhans, research leader and professor at Roosevelt University, said: "By examining the lion's injuries caused by porcupine, we can create a complete picture of the condition. , the situation leads to the urchins who often hunt porcupines. "

African porcupines often have thick and extremely sharp hairs. Group spines can be up to 30cm long and are composed mainly of keratin, a material similar to human hair and nails. This is also an extremely effective protection tool of porcupines in front of other predators.

Due to sharp features, porcupine hair easily attaches deep into the skin and causes major injury to the enemy. Many such incidents happened and were recorded by three Dutch East employees in Cape Town, South Africa in June and August 1656.

The diary of this employee recorded the evolution of the battle between the lion and the porcupine. Accordingly the lion continued to attack, but then he suffered the most damage. The lion is then severely injured and cannot hunt. Most lions, after not attacking the porcupines, often switch to attacking animals and even humans.

In the process of searching for relevant information and documents, the team found that about 50 lions were killed or injured by urchins.

Based on the data analysis, the team found that the hedgehog lions can stem from objective causes . A few lions may have lived in harsh conditions, such as in arid lands, with few animals living. Therefore they often hunt porcupines as a way to survive.

Another interesting thing is that the older lions have more frequency of hedgehogs than older ones. But it is these same animals who often suffer from the hedgehog's wounds. In addition, the older lions often prefer to hunt individually and when there is no help from other children, they are more vulnerable to injury.

The hedgehog lion stabbed into the face.

Lions are often severely injured after attacking porcupines.

Gnoske affirmed: "We know about lions through behavioral studies over the past 40 years, since 1960. Lions like big clawed animals like antelope, zebra and buffalo. And evil. Can we show that, when lions have to hunt porcupines for food, there are certainly problems with the supply of food there. "

Especially if the living conditions in the area have lions and bad food chains, lions are more likely to seek to hunt porcupines to escape hunger.