Read more about lions in our story: The African Lion. See details below. We're the Africa Geographic editorial team — a diverse set of writers, editors, designers and social media natives, all united by our passion for this addictive continent. Opinion Editorial. Natural history , Opinion Editorial. Natural history. Infanticide by females Infanticide by the mother of lion cubs, referred to as filial infanticide when a parent kills its offspring , has been observed where the mother will deliberately abandon her litter when only one cub remains.
Find out more here. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to enjoy more stories like this. A majority of male lions die during this time, said Gabriele Cozzi, a researcher at Zurich University who wasn't involved in the film.
This odyssey also puts them into contact with humans, due to expansion of rural populations, Cozzi said in an email, increasing the chances they will be killed in a wire snare trap a non-selective, widespread method of catching African game. If they survive long enough to find a promising new area, the next step is to take over another pride. But of course resident males will have none of that, and so they end up fighting, often to the death, Dereck said.
They usually do this as a coalition, often consisting of three or four "big, bruising males," Hunter said. When male lions take over a new territory, they almost always kill the prides' cubs, since they are not biologically related and do not want to spend energy ensuring that other lions' genes will be passed on. Female lions also will not be receptive to mating while they are nursing, so killing the cubs enables the male lions to procreate, said Beverly. The Jouberts have had their fair share of close calls, and Beverly has saved Dereck's life many times according to Dereck.
They have survived several plane crashes, being charged by a wounded elephant and, most recently, Dereck was bitten by a boomslang, one of the more deadly snakes in Africa.
Dereck nonchalantly points to the scar left by the bite, saying that he still lacks feeling in the area. The bite occurred days before a visit from the television program "60 Minutes" — but instead of canceling, Dereck went through with the interview. He eventually sought treatment at a South African hospital, he said. Only physically strong, intelligent and fit males survive to become adults in charge of a pride, Dereck said. And these Okavango lions are probably the largest lions on the planet.
That's because there is an abundance of buffalo and other animals to prey upon, and the fact that the animals often walk through water in the delta's many streams, building up their muscles, he said. But male lions, for all their hardships, are sought after by trophy hunters. There are only about 20, lions left in Africa, Beverly said. Other estimates put the number slightly higher, closer to 30, Regardless, their numbers are declining at an alarming rate, experts agree.
About 50 years ago, there were , lions — a decline of more than 95 percent, Beverly added. Trophy hunters, mostly Americans, kill nearly lions per year, typically males, Dereck said. This study adds to a growing body of research that allows comparisons of the Asiatic and African species and their societies.
The genius of the multi-male mating strategy is that it raises the stakes for males, Chakrabarti says. An adult male lion rests in the African sun. Only adult males have manes, ruffs of long, thick hair. The bigger the mane, the more impressive a lion looks to other males. After fighting off the primary mating coalition, the new males established themselves as the leaders. See National Geographic's most stunning pictures of big cats. Though no mother wants to lose her cubs, the invading males might actually benefit the species in the long run by injecting new genetic diversity into their pride.
All rights reserved. But until recently, no one knew just how extraordinary of a parent she really is. African Lion An adult male lion rests in the African sun.
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