Lions, often called the “kings of the jungle,” are big cats known for their distinctive roars. Unlike most other felines, which tend to be solitary, lions are highly social animals that live in organized groups. This unique social structure allows them to thrive in their challenging environments, particularly the African savanna.
What is a Group of Lions Called?
A group of lions is called a “pride.” A group of male lions, specifically, is sometimes referred to as a “coalition.”
Life Within a Lion Pride
A lion pride is a complex social unit, consisting of related adult females, their offspring, and a small number of adult males. The size of a pride can vary, ranging from 2 to 40 individuals, with an average of around 15 members. Female lions form the core of the pride, remaining in their birth pride throughout their lives. They are primarily responsible for hunting to feed the group and for raising the cubs.
Male lions, typically numbering one to four, join the pride from elsewhere and are responsible for protecting the pride and its territory. They often form coalitions, usually with brothers or cousins, to secure and defend a pride. While male lions are formidable hunters, lionesses lead most hunts, working together with precision to bring down large prey. Communal cub-rearing is common, where multiple lionesses share the duties of nursing, guarding, and teaching the young, especially since females often give birth around the same time.
Advantages of Living in a Pride
Living in a pride offers lions several significant evolutionary and practical benefits that enhance their survival. Cooperative hunting strategies, primarily employed by lionesses, increase their success rate in capturing larger prey that would be difficult for a single lion to take down. Studies indicate that cooperative hunting can raise success rates from around 15% for solitary hunters to 30% for a group. This shared effort ensures a more reliable food source for the entire group.
Pride living also provides enhanced protection against rivals and other predators. Male lions actively patrol and defend the pride’s territory from intruding males or rival prides, roaring to mark their boundaries and deter challengers. This territorial defense is crucial for maintaining access to essential resources like food, water, and shelter. Furthermore, communal care for cubs significantly boosts their survival rates, as shared vigilance and nursing duties protect them from threats such as infanticide by new males and other predators. While cub mortality remains high, with some regions seeing over 50% not reaching two years of age, the communal effort improves their chances compared to solitary upbringing.