Lions Attack More Humans After A Full Moon (VIDEO)

Forget about werewolves, humans might need to brace for a bigger problem when the moon is full: lion attacks. According to a study based out of the University of Minnesota and provided in the journal PloS ONE, African lions are more likely to lethally attack humans in the days immediately following a full moon.

The reason, as Live Science reports, is because it's harder for the carnivorous cats to sneak up on their prey in the bright moonlight, leaving them extra hungry.

As Craig Packer, a researcher for the study, told the publication, lions are "nocturnal, stealthy predators" which "rely on darkness to creep up and attack people."

The implications for the people of southern Tanzania, where the research was focused, were chilling.

According to Live Science, from 1988 to 2009, over 1,000 people in southern Tanzania were attacked by lions -- Over two-thirds of the attacks were deadly:

Much of the effect was driven by attacks in the early evening hours, Packer said. In the days before the moon is full, it sets early, meaning the darkest time of night is in the early morning when few people are out and about. After the full moon, however, there is a gap of darkness between sunset and moonrise in the evening. People are more likely to be outside during the evening, Packer said, so they're more vulnerable to attack.

According to an article in the Guardian, researchers studied the times and dates of 500 lion attacks from 1988 to 2009.

A news analysis video from Newsy.com said the researchers hope to use the findings to help educate poor farmers in Tanzania on how to avoid the danger. They went on to say that perhaps the attacks have had a effect on our history as a species.

The video presents CBS News quoting the study's lead author:

"Perhaps they've also touched on an explanation for our centuries-old fear of darkness, if not the accompanying mythology surrounding the full moon. 'There's bound to have been an effect of moonlight on our psychology because of these risks... The full moon definitely is a loud and clear harbinger.'"

WATCH:

Comments

[Edward Standley]

09:34 PM on 07/26/2011

This is good news. It's far easier to convince people in high-risk areas to alter their patterns than to ask the lions to alter theirs.

[mlaiuppa]

09:10 PM on 07/26/2011

People are also more likely to be walking in the days before and after a full moon too, because it's easier to see at night during the days surrounding a full moon.

[Roadrun]

07:55 PM on 07/26/2011

So this lion walks up to find his friend gnawing on a human and just looks at him. Finally the other one looks up and says "I know, I know, they aren't very good but they are slow and dumb and I was hungry."

[Paul Guernsey]

05:21 PM on 07/26/2011

Speaking of lions and full moons, there's some CRAZY news today about American "lions." Turns out the cougar killed last month on a Connecticut highway was a wild one, not a pet as had been supposed—and genetic testing confirms it had probably walked all the way from South Dakota, with stops in Minnesota and Wisconsin. http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/american-wildlife/connecticut-cougar-walked-from-south-dakota/6983

[JimsObie]

07:58 AM on 07/26/2011

The problem here is humans encroaching on animal territory. Humans can't live with wild animals people because THEY ARE ANIMALS!!! And it took a paid study to figure this out. Wish I would have contracted that study.

[leroydied]

07:27 AM on 07/26/2011

How many tax dollars went to this study of common sense? Big meat eating cat may attack!!! And we wonder why the government cannot straighten it's finances.

[Greg Uchrin]

02:18 PM on 07/26/2011

It doesn't take a heckuva lot of money to collect and study data. The lions provide it free of charge...

[boomcat44]

11:57 PM on 07/25/2011

Lions usually hunt at night.
I'm outside.
In the dark.
And....Lions usually hunt at night.

When does common sense kick in here?

[ffeonxe2]

07:40 AM on 07/26/2011

boomcat44: Very good question. The answer is that , commonsense DID NOT kick in. It was probably crawling in... in which case, it was arriving woefully much too late.

[Dangerous Dan]

11:52 PM on 07/25/2011

Humans are attacked on a cycle, but is not a moon cycle, more a female cycle. There is a certian air about.

[Daisytoo]

11:36 PM on 07/25/2011

Something tells me that poor farmers in Tanzania realize that it's more likely they will be attacked by hungry lions when the night is darker rather than lighter.

How about instead of U of Minn. 'researchers' pocketing the money, taxpayers just pony up for some solar lights and heavy artillery for Tanzanian farmers?

[azatrox]

12:25 AM on 07/26/2011

Hey, a sciencephobe with an arrogant attitude. Haven't seen that before. Yes, we definitely need to stop giving money to scientists. Who needs science when all we really need is a gun. Guns always fix the problem.

[ffeonxe2]

07:44 AM on 07/26/2011

But the guns would act in a vicious way to disrupt and possibly re-arrange the order of the food-chain. I am not sure what the result of that would be.

[sugarcreekchile]

07:16 AM on 07/26/2011

Agreed, the natives of Tanzania have been co-existing with the lions an extremely long time and are aware how the natural world works. I'm sure they're well aware that the lighter the night, the less risk of being killed by a lion for the very simple reason that you're more likely to see them coming and that after the time a lion is least successful in hunting, it's going to be hungrier so on the following dark nights, you're more likely to end up as dinner. I wonder how much this useless study to state the obvious cost.

[Daisytoo]

04:17 PM on 07/26/2011

I'm sure a whole lot more than it would cost to ask the famers if they'd like some help and then, if they say yes, equip them w/some solar lights and hunting guns.

[ontariogirl]

05:57 PM on 07/25/2011

I would have said during a full......why.......because they can see you.

[TheCommons]

04:17 PM on 07/25/2011

Look, it's simple. That is when humans are most delicious.

[OMG1]

05:21 PM on 07/25/2011

That was so witty!

[ffeonxe2]

07:47 AM on 07/26/2011

You are funny. I had to restrain myself from giggling , because of the seriousness of the situation. But, I relish your humorous quip.

[P51MUSTANG]

03:05 PM on 07/25/2011

Captain Obvious: you been up all night, cattin' around, of COURSE you're gonna have an appetite. And there are no Denny's in the Serengeti.

[bad spelling grammar]

03:02 PM on 07/25/2011

Good info for people living in Lion country. Hopefully they will use this info and not venture out on nights following the full moon.

[TheSarge]

03:01 PM on 07/25/2011

When they are hungry? When they are hungry and we look edible? When they are hungry and we are encroaching on their territory and we look edible?