This has been bugging me for a long time. Taking Africa as an example, Is it possible that a NON predator species can die of OLD AGE SPECIFICALLY as opposed to being eaten alive or dying of an accident or some kind of heart defect for example (excluding those animals protected in zoo's etc?)
To put it another way are Zebra's or Wildebeest or Gazelles for example born GUARANTEED to be eaten alive at some point in their lives?
The only possible exception i can think of is an African elephant in some circumstances finding a quiet place to go and die (elephant grave yard type thing) isolated from predators. Even Hippo's and Rhino's i imagine at some point are eaten alive through eventual weakness from starvation due to old age. Sorry for the question but googling got me nowhere.
To put it another way are Zebra's or Wildebeest or Gazelles for example born GUARANTEED to be eaten alive at some point in their lives?
The only possible exception i can think of is an African elephant in some circumstances finding a quiet place to go and die (elephant grave yard type thing) isolated from predators. Even Hippo's and Rhino's i imagine at some point are eaten alive through eventual weakness from starvation due to old age. Sorry for the question but googling got me nowhere.