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Lions Defend Turf Like Gangstas

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2009 4:20 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Lion prides display the behavior of human gangs not to hunt more efficiently, but to defend their turf, researchers have discovered. The larger the prides, the more successfully lions keep out interlopers, reports the BBC. Scientists have long been stumped by why lions are singularly sociable among cats and what purpose prides serve. Experts theorized prides improved hunting, but no link has been found between number of hunters and efficient hunting.

Researchers have now discovered that successful defense of a large territory improves mortality rates and reproductive success of females. "The most important way to think about this is that lion prides are like street gangs," said one of the researchers. "They compete for turf. The main difference from humans is that these are gangs of female lions."

The real gangstas: the lionesses in a pride.
The real gangstas: the lionesses in a pride.   (©Traveller07)
NAIROBI, KENYA - MARCH 20: A Lioness sits in the evening light of the Samburu National Park on March 20, 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya.
NAIROBI, KENYA - MARCH 20: A Lioness sits in the evening light of the Samburu National Park on March 20, 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya.   (Getty Images)
Experts theorized that prides improved hunting success, but number of hunters has not been linked to more successful hunts.
Experts theorized that prides improved hunting success, but number of hunters has not been linked to more successful hunts.   (Getty Images)
Male lion takes it easy.
Male lion takes it easy.   (©Traveller07)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
RobN
Jun 30, 2009 2:16 AM CDT
Last week it was sharks who hunt like serial killers, and now it's lions who hunt like gangs. Do we really need to describe every behavior of animals in human terms?
Fondue
Jun 30, 2009 1:32 AM CDT
"The main difference from humans is that these are gangs of female lions." -- I'd say the author here has completely missed the point of the research. Human gangs are not in the business of species survival.

 
gangs • lioness • lion • territory • gangsters • survival • lion pride • street gangs

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