A Clash of Two Lion Prides Ends When This Monster Shows Up

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Written by Alan Lemus

Updated: November 10, 2023

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Male lions are engineered to defend their pride and territories from invaders. 

Lionesses rarely move from their territories. All the lionesses in a territory are related. Territorial rights among females are usually passed down several generations.

Even though both males and females are territorial, they play different roles in defending the territory. Females, the majority in a pride, are charged with hunting to feed the pride. They are faster and more agile than the males, making them more suitable for chasing down their equally fast, if not quicker, prey. 

The male lion may join the females when trying to take down large prey like the buffalo

Females fiercely strive to prevent other females from rival prides from creeping into their territories. The stranger females not only compete for prey but are known to kill the young ones of rival females. 

The male lion is the true definition of a fighter. It often has to fight to maintain control over the pride and defend it from other males keen to take over. 

When rival prides encroach into a pride’s territory, the dominant males will likely be summoned by the females to defend the pride. 

Even though this spectacular occurrence happens now and then, it is rarely captured on video. But a tourist at the Mavela Game Lodge caught a clash between rival prides that almost escalated into a vicious battle until a dominant male gracefully strode in, sending the rival pride scampering for safety. 

Why Do They Defend Territories?

How Long Do Lions Live - old lion

Male lions can survive solitarily but always seek to join or even take over a territory.

©Peter Betts/Shutterstock.com

Lions defend their territories to ensure the continuity of their pride. A territory varies in size and usually contains everything the pride needs to survive, ranging from watering holes to dens for raising the young. 

Having a territory is a matter of life and death because surviving becomes much more challenging without it. Moreover, it ensures food security and continuity through breeding. 

Male lions can survive solitarily but always seek to join or even take over a territory. Young males sometimes move from one territory to another, fight, and assume dominance over new territories.

The lion’s ancestors likely began living in prides to make it easier to defend territories. 

How Do They Defend the Territories?

Roaring male lion

Both male and female lions also roar to inform pride members about their position.

©SteffenTravel/Shutterstock.com

Lions roar to demonstrate their territorial behavior. A lion’s roar is arguably the most iconic vocalization in the animal kingdom. It can travel up to five miles to advertise the male’s presence, readiness, and willingness to defend their territory and pride. 

Both male and female lions also roar to inform pride members about their position. 

Lions can count the number of invaders by their roar. Knowing the number of invading males is critical because it informs their decisions to stand their ground and defend their territory or flee for safety. 

Females will respond to a rival pride’s roar if they know they have the numbers to defeat them. However, if they notice they are outnumbered, the females will not react and will likely flee from the rival’s direction.

Are Lions the Loudest Animals?

Sperm Whale

The loudest animal on earth is the sperm whale, which can reach sound levels of 236 dB (decibels)!

©Animalgraphy/Shutterstock.com

While the male lion in the video sure sounded like he would take the prize – lions are not the loudest animals. That prize goes to the sperm whale – that can reach sound levels of 236 dB (decibels)! Keep in mind that decibels measure sound pressure and that the human ear can tolerate sounds of up to 120 – 130 dB. Sounds louder than that cause physical pain and possibly deafness.

Another loud animal is remarkable for making such loud sounds when it is so tiny. The little tiger pistol shrimp generates sounds that are louder than a gunshot and can kill rivals as far as two miles away. It does this by creating shock waves with its larger claw. The jets of water that shoot out create air bubbles that implode and give out a sonic snap that can reach 200 dB.

We are unlikely to hear all of this noise happening under the sea – what about land animals? The male cicada sings to attract females using a drum located in its abdomen. Among cicadas – the green grocer cicada is loudest – at 135 dB. That tiny insect is louder than the mighty lion, whose iconic roar is a mere 114 dB.


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About the Author

Alan is a freelance writer and an avid traveler. He specializes in travel content. When he visits home he enjoys spending time with his family Rottie, Opie.

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