Lions and Lionesses

Lions are the only cats that live in large social groups called prides. A pride can have 3 to 30 lions and is made up of lionesses, mothers, sisters, cousins and their cubs, along with a few unrelated adult males. The pride has a close bond, and it's not likely to accept a stranger. Lions and lionesses play different roles in the life of the pride. The lionesses work together to hunt and help rear the cubs. This allows them to get the most from their hard work, keeping them healthier and safer. Being smaller and lighter than males, lionesses are more agile and faster. While it may look like the lionesses do all the work in the pride, the males play an important role. While they do eat more than the lionesses, and bring in far less food, males patrol, mark, and guard the prides territory. Males also guard the cubs while the lionesses are hunting. And they make sure the cubs get enough food. When a new male tries to join a pride, he has to fight the males already there. The new male is either driven off or succeeds in pushing out the existing males.