Cannibalism

For information on the "Cannibalize" racial ability, see [Cannibalize].

Trolls

Most trolls seem to practice cannibalism. Several specific troll tribes have been confirmed as cannibalistic, including the Mossflayer and Vilebranch tribes. Furthermore, all of the currently known tribes of ice trolls practice cannibalism. Sand trolls, forest trolls, and jungle trolls are also frequently cannibalistic, though not always. Even the mysterious dark trolls are believed to be cannibals for the most part. Yet there are several notable exceptions. For example, the Zandalar and Revantusk tribes do not consume troll flesh. The Darkspear tribe, too, was cannibalistic until it joined the Horde, at which point the Darkspears officially gave up cannibalism.

Jungle Trolls

The Darkspear trolls come from a dark and bloodthirsty history of sacrifice, cannibalism and black magic. They consider spirits to be individuals much like living creatures. Spirits are greedy, hostile and dangerous. Trolls also believe their ancestors linger on as jealous spirits who miss the land of the living and require blood sacrifices to appease them.

Trolls sacrifice and eat their enemies. They conduct these practices for two reasons. First, they believe the sacrifice of sentient creatures appeases malicious spirits. Second, they believe that after death, an enemy’s spirit can visit misfortune on its killer. By consuming the flesh of their enemies, trolls believe they can also consume their enemy’s spirit, or at least damage it enough to render it impotent.

The orcs’ influence tempers the Darkspear trolls’ spiritual beliefs. The trolls willingly support Thrall and the Horde, and they understand that their destructive rituals offend their allies. Under Thrall’s tutelage, the Darkspear trolls abandoned the sacrifice of sentient creatures and took up animal sacrifice instead. These trolls no longer eat their enemies, but practice other methods of trapping, injuring or destroying enemy spirits. These methods include witch doctor blessings, the burning of enemy hearts, drowning corpses and head-shrinking.

Most members of the Horde look askance at the practice of head-shrinking, but consider it a step up from human sacrifice and cannibalism. Some trolls have techniques to shrink skulls as well, which involve removing key pieces and reconstructing the skull as a smaller version using animal parts and resins to hold it together.

In most tribes, jungle trolls regularly practice cannibalism. Jungle trolls believe that by eating the flesh of their enemies, they not only appease the spirit of the deceased but also consume a portion of that spirit. Thus, by cannibalizing fallen foes, jungle trolls make sure that the mischievous spirits of their enemies do not visit misfortune upon them. They thus have no qualms about devouring an enemy defeated in combat, be he troll or not. Though until recently the Darkspear trolls adhered to these ancient beliefs, their interaction with the Horde has taught them restraint and other virtues. Other beliefs, especially those of the orcs, also “pollute” their ancient traditions...The Darkspear tribe no longer practices cannibalism — at least not openly. Some trolls revert to their old ways out of misunderstanding, and some refuse to adapt, but most accept the Horde’s ways as their own.

Darkspear tribe are an entirely different group; before the Third War, they lived in the Broken Isles, on an island near the Maelstrom, practicing their ancient cannibalistic variety of voodoo and tainted shamanism.

Forest Trolls

In contrast to their wily jungle troll cousins, forest trolls are savage and unrelenting creatures. Not only are they cannibals like other trolls, forest trolls live for slaughtering lesser races, especially the high elves, whom they despise.

It seems that forest trolls practice cannibalism more for the meal than the magic, seeing it as more of a food source than a method to tame spirits. It should be noted that not all troll tribes engage in this practice. The Revantusk trolls, for example, describe the cannibalism of their enemies, the Vilebranch, as "depraved."

Bonechewer Orc Clan

The Bonechewer clan of orcs practiced cannibalism, as well as decorating themselves with the remains of their victims.^{[citation needed]}  Though whether they ate ogres, other orcs, or another race is unknown.

In Beyond the Dark Portal, a small band of orcs, led by Fenris Wolfbrother, enter Menethil Harbor secretly to steal boats from the Alliance and sail to the raised Tomb of Sargeras. Fenris is initially skeptical of the orcs ability for stealth, though he is relieved somewhat by their initial success at the venture. He is quickly disappointed when the alarm is sounded by the humans, who were alerted by a guard's wails from being eaten alive by a Bonechewer orc, in the middle of the operation.

Broken draenei

Desperate broken will sometimes resort to cannibalism.

Undead

The Forsaken and certain other undead also engage in cannibalism, eating humanoids and undead when they require sustenance.

Forsaken are undead, and thus are unable to heal without magical aid. Studying ghouls and abominations, some Forsaken mimic their ability to devour flesh to restore their own.

Wendigo

Savage wendigo have been known to be cannibalistic. Its implied that they eat their own species.

Speculation

Definition

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

In World of Warcraft cannibalism appears to be the practice of consuming the flesh of a sapient humanoid species by another sapient humanoid species, whether one of their own or one of another. This is in contrast to the English definition which describes cannibalism as being exclusively performed among members of the same species.

Other possible cannibalism

While described as cannibals by some sources, or seemingly meeting the criteria of cannibalism as described regarding the trolls, the status of these races as cannibals is unconfirmed.

Humans and other races are known to eat Murlocs as an ingredient in  [Murloc Fin Soup] and formerly in  [Westfall Stew].

Ogres may or may not also habitually eat murlocs; Mudcrush Durtfeet tasks adventurers with bringing him murloc heads to eat. Ogres have also been known to eat orcs, and presumably other humanoid races they've had conflict with.

Centaur have also been known to practice cannibalism; some of them once captured Baine Bloodhoof and planned to eat him. Also, the Mauradine centaur in Desolace have captured Melizza Brimbuzzle, intending to make a meal of her.

The carnivorous gnolls consider all creatures potential food, including members of their own race. "More bones to gnaw on" is commonly said by gnolls when they encounter another humanoid race.

The massive magnataur of northrend are constantly hungry due to their ever increasing size, and when raiding human caravans will eat the humans, horses, and anything they can find that won't break their teeth.