Why Does One Male Lion Hoard All of the Meat For Himself While Others Watch?

Lions are the most social among the big cats. While other big cat species may hunt together or live in small family groups, lions form lion prides of 15 to 40 lions. These complex family structures have clearly defined roles and a strict hierarchy. It’s the top male lion that decides who eats and when. One fascinating video out of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya from the Maasai Sightings YouTube channel shows what it’s like to attempt to grab a bite to eat when the dominant male doesn’t feel like sharing.

What Is the Make-Up of a Typical Lion Pride?

Unlike many other mammals, where the females form separate groups from the males, such as in elephant herds, lions live together with females and males. A typical lion pride is made up of a group of mostly related females, their offspring, and at least one male. However, there may be more than one male in the group. Outside females are occasionally welcomed in, and this helps with genetic diversity.

Larger prides may have a team of male lions, often brothers, who help to protect the large group. The cubs will grow up under the protection of the lions and lionesses. As they grow, they may stay with their pride their entire lives. Some may leave when they are old enough to join or form a new pride. Sometimes adult male lions live alone or form coalitions with other bachelors.

Roles Within the Pride

Each member of the pride has a job to do and a role to play. The lionesses are the primary hunters, and the males are responsible for protecting the group. That being said, male lions also hunt, and lionesses also protect the group from threats.

The lionesses are also the ones who raise and nurture the young. They feed them and protect them against hyenas and other threats. The lionesses also teach their young how to hunt, how to fit into the social hierarchy, and other important survival skills.

How Does the Social Structure in Lion Prides Work?

Although the lionesses form the backbone of the pride, the dominant male is usually the leader. He keeps order in the group, makes important territorial decisions, and has priority mating rights. The hierarchy of the group determines what order the pride eats.

The video from the Maasai Mara National Reserve we mentioned above shows a male lion keeping others at bay while he gets first dibs on the kill. The male chases other females away, but most of his ire seems to be directed at one younger male. The dominant male needs to establish his authority, and by chasing away this young male, he is reminding him who is the boss. The younger one knows he’s no match for the king and rolls over on his back to show his submission.

Once the male gets his fill, it will be the lionesses’ turn. After the lionesses, the other sub-adults, and finally the cubs, will all get a chance to share the feast. Waiting in the background of the video, we can see jackals darting back and forth, waiting for the lions to finish so they can jump in and grab a bite. The amount of resources available determines how fiercely the dominant male will fight the others for the right to eat first. A large prey animal is less likely to be fiercely defended than a small amount of food.

How Do Lions Fight Within the Pride?

Unlike a true fight to the death, the lions in the video were squabbling to assert dominance. If you watched the video, you would have heard a lot of roaring. Roars are used for communication, such as when lions need to locate each other or work together on group hunts. But roars are also used within the group to strengthen the hierarchical roles and remind the group who is dominant.

The dominant male may bat at others with his massive paws, or even bite with his strong teeth, but he is not attempting any real damage. It’s his way of communicating that he is the boss.

A Short Time at the Top

It’s hard work to be the leader of a large group of lions. Only the biggest lions at the peak of their prime can manage it before a younger male shows up to take over. Male lions only dominate a pride for about two or three years. In one unique case, two brothers leading a pride have managed to keep it going for six years. This, however, is rare, and their challenges are great.