Like tigers, leopards, and jaguars, lions are a large cat that belongs to the big cat family. It is the second largest cat in the world after tigers and is a specialty of Africa and India. Although lions were once found in much of Africa, Asia and Europe, they are now only found in the wild in Africa and the Gil Forest of India. Open forests, savannas, bushes and grassy plains are the lion's main habitat. Lions are known for their large bodies and manes, as well as their lion groups or social groups. They are top predators and key predators, which means they occupy an extremely important place in the food chain and have a significant ecological impact. They are also one of the strongest cats in the world.
These big cats have become one of the most famous animal symbols in human culture, appearing in sculptures, paintings, flags and, more recently, in films and literature. Unfortunately, as a result, they are now a fragile species and their numbers are constantly declining. One of the most important characteristics of lions is that they are the only species of large cats in the world that live in groups. However, do you think lions can survive on their own? So let's take a look at how lions work, and then see if they can survive without their companions.
1. How lions operate
A lion herd usually consists of 10-15 lions, mainly female lions, consisting of adult and sub-adults (between 2 - 4 years), cubs, and one or more male lions, with the maximum number of adult males being 4. As they age, the female cubs will proudly remain in the lion herd. When they reach sexual maturity, at about 2 years of age, they will become hunters of lions. At the same time, the older male lion will kick the young male out of the lion group. These young males then live and travel in small groups (usually with siblings) until they can take over another lion herd and breed with the females.
This process is usually accompanied by a battle of male lions or lion groups. When a male lion takes over a lion herd, it can kill all the cubs in the lion group to force the females in the lion group to breed and raise their own cubs. On the other hand, when the female lion recognizes the male lion as the leader of the lion group, the male lion will become a member of the lion group. In the wild, a male lion group can usually only rule one lion group for 3-5 years, because female lions can attack and kill the older male lions who previously dominated the male lion group.
2. The role of the lion
Males are primarily responsible for the safety of lions. Although they occasionally go out hunting, most of their time is spent on security patrols. They will defend their proud territory, up to 258 square kilometers. Females are responsible for hunting, and these activities usually occur after dark. In addition, the male lion is also the main caretaker of the lion cubs. Males are at the top of the food chain, followed by females, and finally cubs. The roar of a lion is a territorial display that can be heard at least 5 kilometers away. Lions can count the number of individuals in a roaring group, and if the number of invaders safely exceeds them, they challenge the invaders.
3. The behavior of lions
Cubs in lion flocks are often born at the same time, with the female acting as co-parents. Females feed each other's pups, but weaker pups are often left to earn a living, often resulting in death. When hunting, lions usually hunt in groups with other members of the lion group. According to some researchers, the hunting advantages offered by lion colonies over vast plains may have influenced the evolution of the social structure of lion populations. These hunting areas are home to many large prey, some of which can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms, making group hunting necessary. Lions spend most of their time sleeping and lying on the ground, while males patrol the surroundings to protect against intruders. Lionesses lead the hunt among the lions, and after the killing, the lions gather together for a feast and argue with each other.
4. Can lions survive alone?
Lions who do not depend on lions are called wanderers, and they follow large migratory herds of beasts, traveling all over the place. Wanderers are usually young males who wander in pairs or small groups, and are often related to each other by blood. Of course, females sometimes wander alone. Young females, like young males, are sometimes abandoned by lions for unknown reasons. As they age and experience, stray male lions may challenge male lions in established lion groups to gain dominance in specific territories and lion groups; or they may join stray female lions to form a new lion group. While they don't lead lion attacks, stray male lions are expert hunters because they are often forced to chase small, fast-moving prey. Lion hunting strategies, whether in groups or alone, are usually slow and patient to follow and then attack quickly. Lions don't have a lot of stamina and don't perform well in long-distance chases.
Even so, in some cases, male lions cannot dominate lion groups without male lions. As a result, they will have to survive on their own. In addition, when a female mates with a male lion who is not the lion group and becomes pregnant, she sometimes leaves the lion group to live alone to save her cubs, because if she does not leave, the male lions of the lion group will kill them.
So, the answer is yes, lions can live alone, and they do do for a time in their lives. Think of other big cats, such as tigers or leopards, who also live alone. If they can all succeed in doing this, there is no reason why lions, as a feline brother, cannot live alone.
In addition, many historical lion subspecies have proved to survive alone. The Cougar who lived 2 million years ago, a man who defeated the invincible hand of the American continent; the cave lion who lived 300,000-100,000 years ago, was a man who dominated the entire Eurasian continent; the Barbary lion, which became extinct in the wild at the beginning of the last century, is also a person who is proud of the Colosseum. These big cats all have a delicate or complex relationship with modern lions, so modern lions can certainly live alone.
5. So why don't modern lions live alone?
In the director's view, the most important reason is that lions are the most perfectly evolved cats, and living in groups is a demonstration of their characteristics. Lions used to be solitary animals like tigers and leopards, but over time, the better genes in their blood prompted them to slowly know that if they want to be stronger in this world, easier to defeat enemies, and more able to avoid injury, then living in groups is the best way. Originally, the individual strength was already alone and defeated, coupled with the accumulation of combat strength after living in groups, the lion became the strongest to sweep the entire regional continent. If it were not for the strength and resistance of humans, then the lion would most likely become a predator all over the world.
The above is an exclusive reflection on whether a lion can live alone. Do you agree with the Director's analysis and conclusions? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.