3 ms·

> why not Because typical preys don't drink saltwater.

by mdp2021 4y ago

mc32 4y ago
Right and they only went there when their normal prey (ungulates) became scarce so facing starvation they opted to hunt for shore animals like seals and birds that frequent the seashore.
- armadsen 4y ago
  That's a bit of a simplification of what the article reports, which is that desert lions were there before being driven out by nearby farmers in 2002. They came back because of the drought and lack of non-marine prey. Seems likely that there have been lions there for a very long time, which sort of by definition means that they're adapted for living there, even if that adaptation was spurred by difficulty in getting "normal" prey.
lotsofpulp 4y ago
Not quite saltwater, but close. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_lick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_lick There are man made salt licks on safaris so tourists have a greater chance to see a predator, and possibly even a hunt since the prey is gathered there.
tiedieconderoga 4y ago
Cats are pretty well adapted to water despite the stereotypes, and fish are typical prey for many species. Tigers famously live along deltas, there are spotted wildcats which live in mangroves called "fishing cats", flat-headed cats stalk the waters around the Gulf of Thailand, even Pallas Cats have been known to go fishing in the steppes. Although, according to the article these lions started eating birds that live along the coastline because their usual mammalian prey are dying off from drought. It's pretty common for birds, especially migratory ones, to hang around saltwater while they feed on things like algae and small shellfish.
- mdp2021 4y ago
  > fish are typical prey for many species They know, and they don't take it lightly. Welcome tiedieconderoga and please receive this in appreciation: https://www.comedywildlifephoto.com/images/wysiwyg/00000053/highly-commended-john-chaney_fight-back.jpg https://www.comedywildlifephoto.com/images/wysiwyg/00000053/...

> why not Because typical preys don't drink saltwater.

mc32 4y ago

Right and they only went there when their normal prey (ungulates) became scarce so facing starvation they opted to hunt for shore animals like seals and birds that frequent the seashore.

armadsen 4y ago
That's a bit of a simplification of what the article reports, which is that desert lions were there before being driven out by nearby farmers in 2002. They came back because of the drought and lack of non-marine prey. Seems likely that there have been lions there for a very long time, which sort of by definition means that they're adapted for living there, even if that adaptation was spurred by difficulty in getting "normal" prey.

lotsofpulp 4y ago

Not quite saltwater, but close. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_lick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_lick There are man made salt licks on safaris so tourists have a greater chance to see a predator, and possibly even a hunt since the prey is gathered there.

tiedieconderoga 4y ago

Cats are pretty well adapted to water despite the stereotypes, and fish are typical prey for many species. Tigers famously live along deltas, there are spotted wildcats which live in mangroves called "fishing cats", flat-headed cats stalk the waters around the Gulf of Thailand, even Pallas Cats have been known to go fishing in the steppes. Although, according to the article these lions started eating birds that live along the coastline because their usual mammalian prey are dying off from drought. It's pretty common for birds, especially migratory ones, to hang around saltwater while they feed on things like algae and small shellfish.

mdp2021 4y ago
> fish are typical prey for many species They know, and they don't take it lightly. Welcome tiedieconderoga and please receive this in appreciation: https://www.comedywildlifephoto.com/images/wysiwyg/00000053/highly-commended-john-chaney_fight-back.jpg https://www.comedywildlifephoto.com/images/wysiwyg/00000053/...