Final answer:
The lions of Tsavo preyed on humans as a result of environmental pressures and a scarcity of their typical prey, illustrating the struggle for survival. Lions typically hunt in social groups called prides, but will diverge from their normal diet if necessary. Ecological imbalances such as predator decline can have wider environmental impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lions of Tsavo became infamous for preying on humans, a behavior that can be seen as an extreme example of the struggle for survival that all animals engage in. This concept is closely associated with Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, where he discusses how animals compete for resources in order to survive. In environments with scarce resources, predators like lions may deviate from their typical prey to ensure survival.
Lions typically hunt smaller carnivorous animals as well as larger herbivores such as zebras and elephants. An important factor in their survival is the ability to hunt cooperatively in social groups known as prides. However, when there is a shortage of their usual prey due to environmental changes or human interventions, they may turn to alternative food sources, including humans in extreme cases.
Ecological imbalance can also lead to changing behaviors. For example, a decrease in one predator, such as cougars in the western US, can lead to an overpopulation of prey species, in this case, deer, which then has cascading effects on the local environment. The interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem means that shifts in the population of one species can have wide-reaching effects.