Of all the feline representatives, only lions are united in social groups . The pride consists of 2-18 lionesses and several lions, one of which is necessarily the head of the entire large family. All these individuals are usually close relatives having their own specific territory.
Who is the head in this house?
Lionesses, unlike lions, do not establish between themselves any hierarchical system. Another thing is males, among them there is one the most important and strongest lion, whose leadership qualities other male males do not have the right to dispute. A pride of lions (photo of the lion family you can see below) always has only one leader.
The dominant male has several advantages: he dines first after a successful hunt, during estrus with females he mates first with them and first attacks the enemy who invaded the pride territory.
Quite often, young lions begin to claim the post of head of the family. Pride, as a rule, expels such males at the age of 2-2.5 years. Such individuals can create their own pride or live in splendid isolation. However, it also happens that male brethren begin to live in a small group without females. Often young single males, not burdened with the protection of cubs and other members of the group, begin to seize someone else's territory and lure several females there. If a lion captures a pride, then the first thing he does is kill all the lion cubs. Females, unfortunately, rarely manage to save their cubs, only one-year-old lions have chances to survive. After the exile of the former leader and the elimination of all the cubs, the pride is led by a new young lion.
In lionesses who have lost their children, after 2-3 weeks, heat begins again. Thus, the new leader will quickly be able to get his own offspring. Infanticide or killing of cubs from a former dominant male is a very cruel, but at the same time a necessary measure. After all, if you do not eliminate the little lion cubs, then the new leader will be able to get his children no earlier than 2 years later. Since the leaders of the lion group change every 2-3 years, he simply will not have time to produce and raise his offspring.
Pride Benefits
Lions live by prides mainly in order to increase the chances during the hunt. Naturally, in the group, lions are more likely to get large prey (for example, a buffalo or an antelope). In addition, life as a group allows lions to protect the undernourished corpse from scavengers and spotted hyenas.
Pride also has a protective function. Females in most cases give birth at the same time, life as a community allows them to feed and protect the cubs together. Often there are also situations when stray lions can come to the territory of the community. Pride immediately begins to jointly defend the little lion cubs. With the members of their pride, the lions are very courteous and affectionate, during the greeting they always rub their faces.
On the other hand, in a pride, a lion always has less food than if he lived alone. But even with this fact in mind, living in a community is much safer for lions.