It may seem gruesome, but many animals have been recorded feeding on their own species. Here are 11 cannibalistic animals, including some that might surprise you.

By Leoma Williams

Published: Wednesday, 18 September 2024 at 20:03 PM


Cannibalism – the act of eating an individual of the same species – is often not a good idea, and not just because of our own human morals. It can lead to the spread of some very nasty diseases, as well as the evolutionary cost of potentially eating your own kin.

However, it is not as rare as you might think. In fact, it has been recorded in more than 1,500 species, and as with all behaviours, there is often a good evolutionary reason behind it. These reasons are varied, and cannibalism can take a few different forms, read on to find out more.

11 examples of cannibalism in the animal kingdom

1. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Alpha male chimpanzee, Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda. © Marc Guitard/Getty

Although primarily herbivorous, chimpanzees do enjoy eating meat occasionally, hunting for monkeys and bush pigs. Their tastes can be even closer to home, however. We may not like to think of our closest animal relatives indulging in something so gruesome but they sometimes feed on their own too.

This primarily takes the form of eating newborn infants. It is thought that male chimpanzees do this when they don’t think they are the father, to free up breeding opportunities from new females, and to outcompete other males.

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