When a new male lion takes over a pride, it can be a turbulent time for the lions. The incoming males, called nomads, will fight the existing pride males for dominance. If the nomads win, they will then kill any existing cubs in the pride. This allows the new males to breed with the females and have their own offspring. The lionesses often fiercely protect their cubs, but are usually overpowered by the stronger nomads. While infanticide is brutal, it makes evolutionary sense for lions – the new males want to ensure that the cubs they are raising are their own. Once the existing cubs are killed, the females will come into estrous and mate with the incoming males.
What triggers a lion pride takeover?
There are a few key events that can prompt a pride takeover:
- The existing pride males become old or injured and are challenged by younger, stronger nomads.
- The pride males die, leaving a vacancy for new males to take their place.
- The pride grows too large, prompting sub-adults to leave and challenge other males for a pride of their own.
- A nomad coalition notices vulnerable cubs or an abundance of food in a pride’s territory and decides to take it over.
Most often, a pride takeover occurs when the existing males become too old or weak to defend their position. Males in their prime are usually strong enough to fend off challengers. But lion males only maintain their prime from about 5-8 years old. As they age, their strength wanes, and they become more vulnerable to being ousted. Injuries sustained from fights or hunts can also compromise a male’s ability to remain dominant.
How does the pride takeover happen?
When nomad males are looking to take over a pride, they will spend time assessing the pride males and cubs. Once they decide to make their move, the takeover happens swiftly and violently.
The nomads will approach the pride and seek out the males. They will likely charge towards them quickly in an ambush attack. Outnumbered pride males often flee initially. But the nomads will chase them down and engage in fierce fights. The battles between males involves wrestling, biting, and clawing. Though violent, these fights are usually not fatal. They end when one male submits or flees.
If the nomads win decisively against the pride males, they will then turn their aggression towards killing the cubs. Lionesses will attempt to hide or defend their cubs, but nomad coalitions are usually too strong to be repelled. They will bite and claw cubs to death rapidly. The entire takeover can take less than a few hours from start to finish.
What happens after a successful pride takeover?
In the days after a takeover, there is tension and volatility within the pride. The lionesses are aggressive as they grieve their cubs. They may direct anger towards the incoming males or each other. The new males are on high alert for any remaining sub-adult males that could try to challenge them. They must also work to establish dominance and compliance among the lionesses.
Once the males have secured their position, they will mate repeatedly with the lionesses who come into estrous. Within a few months, new cubs will be born that the males can raise as their own. Over time, the pride stabilizes into its new order and rhythms.
There are a few key impacts that arise from a pride takeover:
- Greater genetic diversity – New males means new genes are introduced into the pride’s bloodline.
- The pride may split – Some lionesses may reject the new males and leave to form their own pride with sub-adults.
- Better protection – Younger, stronger nomad males can better defend the pride from threats like hyenas.
- Expanded territory – Incoming males may expand the boundaries of the pride’s territory.
While takeovers are difficult, they serve an important purpose for the species. The new males allow fresh genetics to enter the pride and provide better physical protection. Within a matter of months, cubs sired by the nomads will be born, and the pride resumes its rhythms.
How do females behave during a pride takeover?
The lionesses in a pride subject to takeover face an extremely difficult and traumatic situation. Some key behaviors they exhibit include:
- Aggression towards incoming males – They may attack nomads trying to kill cubs, often futilely.
- Hiding or defending cubs – They desperately try to save cubs by hiding them or fighting nomads.
- Submission – Eventually they succumb to the stronger nomads and submit to the new males.
- Grieving – They will mourn the cubs killed by calling, rubbing their dead bodies, or carrying them.
- Volatility – Grief may cause lionesses to be more aggressive and tense after the takeover.
- Estrous – Bereft of cubs, females soon come into heat and mate with the incoming males.
The mothers form intense bonds with their cubs, so losing them triggers profound grief. But lionesses have little choice but to eventually accept the new males and resume mating activity. Their submission allows the pride and species to continue.
How do pride males behave during a takeover?
Pride male lions face a dire threat when nomads challenge their position. Some key behaviors the males exhibit include:
- Fleeing – They may flee initially from charging nomads to avoid injury.
- Fighting – If they stand their ground, they will ferociously fight nomads, often to their own detriment.
- Submitting – If they cannot win, surviving males will eventually submit and leave the pride.
- Leaving the pride – Defeated males become nomads again and search for a new pride.
- Killing cubs – In some cases, fleeing males may kill cubs they encounter, similar to nomad behavior.
Pride males face near certain defeat against a determined coalition of younger challengers. Their best option is often to flee and become nomadic again rather than risk serious injury or death defending the pride. Some may kill cubs they come across in order to trigger estrous in the females.
What happens to male cubs during a pride takeover?
Male cubs face the greatest threat during a pride takeover. Unlike female cubs that may be assimilated, the incoming nomads almost always kill male cubs. This eliminates any future threat to their dominance. Some key outcomes for male cubs are:
- Killed – The most common outcome is being killed by the invading nomads.
- Hidden – On rare occasions, male cubs escape detection and survive.
- Abandoned – Some adolescent males are forcibly driven out of the pride before the takeover.
- Killed later – Spared cubs may be killed by nomads when detected months later.
Male cubs have very low odds of survival in a pride takeover. Their death almost always inevitable unless by chance they go undetected by the nomads or are old enough be expelled rather than killed directly.
What happens to female cubs during a pride takeover?
Female lion cubs face slightly better odds during a pride takeover, though many are still killed. Some potential outcomes for females are:
- Killed – Nomad males may kill female cubs along with males.
- Spared – Females may be spared since they pose no threat.
- Hidden – Some escape detection through hiding or camouflage.
- Adopted – Invading males may adopt female cubs as their own.
- Abandoned – Adolescent females may be expelled prior to the takeover.
While female cubs have somewhat better chances, their survival is still precarious. However, many females make it through takeovers to eventually breed with the pride’s new males.
How do nomad males behave during the takeover process?
The nomad males orchestrating a pride takeover have very deliberate behaviors geared towards eliminating threats and seizing control:
- Assessing – They cautiously observe the pride from a distance looking for optimal timing.
- Charging – They rapidly run at the pride males to overwhelm them.
- Fighting – They will ferociously duel pride males until they submit or flee.
- Killing cubs – Methodically seek out and kill any cubs in the pride.
- Mating – After takeover, they immediately mate with females in estrous.
- Defending – Fiercely defend the pride from any counterattacks.
The calculated actions of the nomads demonstrate the pure biological drivers behind pride takeovers. For them, it is all about propagation and passing on their genes at any cost.
How often do successful pride takeovers happen?
The frequency of pride takeovers varies across different lion populations. Some generalized frequencies include:
- Large open spaces – Takeovers every 2-3 years.
- Small reserves – Takeovers every 5-7 years.
- Heavily disrupted habitats – Takeovers every 1-2 years.
- Well protected parks – Takeovers every 7-10 years.
Takeovers happen most often when nomads can easily access prides, such as populations in thin brush or small reserves. Well protected habitats see fewer takeovers since nomad access is reduced.
What factors make a pride more vulnerable to takeover?
Some key factors that increase a pride’s vulnerability include:
- Aging pride males – primes 8+ years old are weaker and prone to defeat.
- Injured males – any physical impairment compromises fighting ability.
- Few pride males – single males are outmatched by nomad coalitions.
- Many nomads nearby – more nomads makes takeovers more likely to occur.
- Exposed territory – flat, open land offers little hiding and easy access.
- Plentiful food – abundant prey will tempt nomad challenge.
Prides can do little to avoid most risk factors. But expansive parks with natural barriers help. Good conservation also reduces nomad numbers and eases takeover pressures.
How long does the takeover process last?
Takeovers can unfold very quickly, often lasting less than a few hours from initiation to completion. The timetable may proceed as follows:
- 0-2 hours – Initial challenge and pride male fights.
- 0-3 hours – Killing of cubs.
- 2-4 hours – Females submit, nomads control the pride.
- 0-2 days – Remaining volatility and tension.
- 1-2 months – Females mate with new males.
- 3-4 months – Cubs of nomad males born.
Within mere hours, the nomads achieve full control of the pride females and breeding rights. Within months, their cubs are born and the pride resumes stability.
Conclusion
Pride takeovers are tumultuous events triggered by the natural reproductive instincts and competitiveness of male lions. Though violent and difficult for the females, new males bring renewed vitality and protection. The rapid overthrow of ownership allows lion behavior and genes to be selectively shaped for the highest fitness. While discomforting to human sensibilities, it is a natural process that has long played out on the African savannah.