Audio version of web page: https://www.animal-ethics.org/wild-animal-suffering-section/situation-of-animals-wild/malnutrition-thirst-wild-animals/

One of the most important factors limiting the growth of animal  populations is the lack of food and water, which can kill huge numbers  of animals. We can imagine how much suffering this entails. One of the  reasons why many animals have huge numbers of offspring is in order to  make it possible that at least some of them can find food and survive,  even if it means many others starve to death.