Why do lions attack humans?

Answer 1

There is always a lion David Rabbitburrow in the background with a camera crew. They are making wildlife documentaries for lions.

Answer 2

Normally we aren't on lions' menu, but if a lion (and this is almost always a male, since for part of their lives they are nomadic) is very old or injured and has trouble hunting and killing its natural prey, it may turn to a very slow and easy to catch prey - humans.

However, there are some anomalies - notably the "Maneaters of Tsavo", two healthy young males that terrorized railroad builders in Africa more than a century ago. It is theorized that these healthy lions simply opportune upon a human, make a kill and then come to realize how easy we are to catch. Basically they turn to man-eating by accident. But there is another theory about the Maneaters of Tsavo. Both were males but had almost no mane to speak of.

For lions, the mane is a symbol of "manhood" and to not have one puts the mane-less lion in a sorry predicament with regards to being able to intimidate other males and eventually take on the role of pride leader. These lions can't "make it" as normal males therefore they always live on the fringe of lion society, and are forced to hunt on their own, or in pairs. This probably makes coming by food harder than it would for a whole female-led pride, therefore making the animals more likely to turn to man-eating.

The only other reason a lion would attack a human is if someone got foolishly close to a lion - then it may charge in defense.

Answer 3

What Schrecken said is essentially correct.

People are not the number one choice for most animals anymore (unlike, say, 10,000 years ago); the possible exception might be crocodiles. Of the top 10 man-killers, croc's come in at #4 and the only ones above the croc are bees, spiders and cobras. (Clearly, none of those are eating us).

Lions come in at #7 on this list. Whereas the croc is sort of a mindless killing machine, the lion has a bit more wits about her. Still, there have been plenty of instance of lions purposefully stalking and killing people. We are just another food source to them.

Answer 4

typically, the kinds of lions that go after humans are the rejects of the pride; weak males that weren't tough enough to cut it as a breeder. they pick off villiagers because they are easy prey.

Answer 5

Because humans are delicious.

Also, lions are jerks.

Answer 6

To borrow from Gary Larson:

"That was incredible, no fur, claws, horns, antlers or nothing, just soft and pink"

Answer 7

tHEY THINK HUMAN WILL ATTACK THEM

Answer 8

Because we're so yummy....