More Great Content:
Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video

Watch A Lion Battle A Pack Of Wild Dogs And Show Why It’s The King Of The Jungle

Written by Sharon Parry
Updated: May 17, 2023
© charles Hopkins/Shutterstock.com
Share this post on:
Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video

Key Points

  • Once a lion becomes older, they become weaker and less able to provide for itself.
  • African wild dogs are carnivorous hunters who count the lion as one of their predators, along with hyenas and humans.
  • Hunting as a pack enables them to take on larger prey, such as wildebeest, but this pack made a mistake in thinking that they could take on this lion.

This is a poignant scene that captures what are probably the final months of this magnificent lioness’ life. We learn from the video notes that she is called Verity and that she is already 15 years old. The life expectancy for a lioness in the wild is 15-16 years old, although male lions only live for 8-10 years. Therefore, she would not be expected to live that much longer. Lionesses in captivity, however, can live for over 20 years, and some have even reached 25 years. We say king of the jungle in jest, knowing full well that lions live in savannahs and grasslands. But King of the Grassland just doesn’t sound as cool, now, does it?

Magnificent Lioness At The End Of Her Life

lioness
Lionesses can live for 15 years in the wild

©Yogiee/Shutterstock.com

The lifespan of lions is dictated by several factors including food availability, natural threats, and the prevalence of disease. For male lions, the proximity of rival males can also cause sudden deaths. Once a lion becomes older, they become weaker and less able to provide for itself. Their birth pride may continue to provide food for them when they are no longer able to hunt but life still gets more difficult for them.

4,812 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz

Think You Can?

It almost seems as if these wild dogs can sense that this lion is not the threat that she once was. Nevertheless, she still manages to fight them off despite her advanced age and the fact that there are many more wild dogs.

Wild Dogs As Hunters

wild dogs
African wild dogs are known to prey on animals that are significantly larger than they are but usually consider lions to be predators.

©bayazed/Shutterstock.com

African wild dogs are carnivorous hunters who count the lion as one of their predators, along with hyenas and humans. They roam deserts and open plains and are found in National Parks across southern Africa. As is obvious from this footage, they are highly sociable pack animals and live in groups of up to 30 individuals.

The pack does everything together including hunting and they share food. They also help to care for sick and young pack members. This social arrangement is achieved through communication and some of this is verbal. We can clearly hear their distinctive calls in this footage. They also use touch and movement and will nose and lick each other and wagtails to relay information. Hunting as a pack enables them to take on larger prey, such as wildebeest, but this pack made a mistake in thinking that they could take on this lion.

Experience The Full Video Below!

Up Next:

More from A-Z Animals


The Featured Image

Wild dogs hunting
Wild dogs live in packs of up to 30
© charles Hopkins/Shutterstock.com

Share this post on:
About the Author

Sharon has a Ph.D. in Public Health but has spent the last decade researching and writing about all things connected with animal health and well being. As a life-long animal lover, she now shares her family home with three rabbits, a Syrian hamster, and a very energetic Cocker Spaniel but in the past she has also been a Mom to Guinea Pigs and several cats!She has a passion for researching accurate and credible information about pets and reviewing products that make pet owners' lives a bit easier. When she isn't checking out new pet products she's trekking around the Welsh mountains and beaches with her dog - although she lets her husband and her three grown up daughters tag along sometimes if they are lucky!

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.