This Sneaky Lioness Uses All Her Charms to Steal a Male’s Meal – And He Falls for It!

‘The course of true love never did run smooth’ as Shakespeare wrote – and this clip shows it to be as true for lions as it is for humans. This poor male lion was convinced that the female was looking for his company when all she really wanted was a meal. The sneaky female distracts him by rubbing her head up against his, and he totally falls for it. What she is actually doing is trying to get her mouth close to the carcass. Once she has achieved this, she grabs it and runs! He pursues her, and she decides to drop the carcass and hide behind a tree. From the look on his face at the end of the clip, this is the most confused male lion in Zambezi National Park right now!

Watch the Deception Now!

How Do Male and Female Lions Normally Behave?

Female lions live in groups called prides. It is a very tight social unit made up of genetically related females and their cubs. However, there is no clear female in charge. The lions often synchronize their births and then work together to raise the young in what is called a ‘creche system.’ The females often hunt together, and working as a team gives them a better chance of being successful.

Male membership of the pride is a little more complex and transient. A pride may have one or several male lions attached to it, and they have the mating rights over all the females. However, they only stay with the pride for two or three years and then move on.

What Does It Mean When Lions Rub Heads?

You can clearly see the lioness in this clip rubbing her head against the male’s but what does that mean? Lions use head rubbing to strengthen social bonds. It is observed between both males and females. Often, females use it towards males to diffuse tense situations. Things cannot get more tense than one lion pinching a meal from another!

Lions also use a form of greeting ceremony. They approach each other, rubbing their heads and the sides of their bodies together. They may also lean against each other. Lions use this as a way to demonstrate pride in membership and to reinforce social bonds. It is also used by subordinates to appease a more dominant lion. Perhaps this is what the lioness is doing here? Just before she pinches his meal off him!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Wicker Imaging/Shutterstock.com