What happens when a lion raised in captivity is released into the wild

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An adult lion raised in captivity from birth faces significant challenges if released into the wild, particularly in the Savannahs of Africa. Research indicates that such lions may lack essential survival skills, including hunting and socialization, which are critical for thriving in a natural environment. Captive lions, accustomed to human care and feeding, may not instinctively know how to hunt or interact with wild counterparts. The discussion highlights the importance of social structures in lion behavior, suggesting that without proper socialization, a captive-raised lion might struggle to integrate into wild prides or could resort to preying on livestock, exposing it to dangers from humans. Innovative programs exist that aim to reintroduce captive lions to the wild by gradually reducing human contact, but the overall success of these efforts remains uncertain. The differences in survival potential between male and female lions were also considered, though specific impacts were not detailed.
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If an adult lion is raised in captivity from birth by a circus or a zoo or by anyone other humans, would that adult lion be able to survive if it was released into the wild in the Savannahs of Africa? If a lion was raised from birth in captivity and fed chunks of meat by humans, would that lion know how to hunt and eat game on its own?

I've always wondered about this. Has there ever been any research into the outcomes of lions that were raised in captivity from birth and then released into the wild?
 
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sevensages said:
would that adult lion be able to survive if it was released into the wild in the Savannahs of Africa?
What reading have you been doing about this so far?

Would it make a difference if the lion were male vs. female, and why?

Do you understand what it means when it is said that those lions are "social" animals?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion
 
One issue with animals raised in captivity is that they are used to humans and that by itself can be a danger to them.
 
Two words: feral cats.
 
sevensages said:
... If a lion was raised from birth in captivity and fed chunks of meat by humans, would that lion know how to hunt and eat game on its own?
If it can't create its own or be accepted by, and learn to socialize and to hunt in cooperation with a group, it would go for easier livestock, facing the most dangerous, common and widespread species of primate:

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.u...oison-is-a-growing-threat-to-africas-wildlife
 
Today I Learned (TIL) that there actually is a zoo that is dedicated to helping to re-introduce lions into the wild and uses a very innovative technique to ween the lions off of their human contact experiences...

1709609686705.png
 
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