The most fundamental form of lion social structure is represented by resident prides, which inhabit hunting territories large enough to support the pride during periods of food and water scarcity. According to the suitability of the environment and the availability of prey, lion numbers, home territory sizes, and social group sizes change. They are typically higher in moist meadows where there is an abundance of game and lower in drier bushes where there are fewer prey animals. Although prides can have up to 40 members, both in the Serengeti and Kruger National Park, the typical pride has 13 members. A Youtube Short shows that even a ferocious pride of lions can be spooked. In the clip, we see the big cats relaxing in the sun when suddenly a crocodile appears out of nowhere! One of the female lions and the dominant male lion attempt to attack the apex predator.
Smart Choices
It’s an interesting battle to envision: Lion vs. Crocodile on Pay-Per-View! A comment on the video makes a good point. The viewer states: “They (the lions) are intelligent to not get hurt unnecessarily, their health is key to survival. They don’t appear to be starving either. The male lion is a delight to watch.” While an extremely famished lion could technically hunt a crocodile, it’s unlikely. They’re at a disadvantage due to the hard exterior of the crocodile’s body and their ability to death roll any animal they can catch in a body of water. The croc in this footage isn’t going down without a fight, either! With his large jaw hanging open, he’s telling every lion in the area to back off. Surprisingly, the big cats listen. Lions are cautious of crocodiles and will typically remain out of the water to avoid them. What transpires, though, when these animals enter a lion’s territory? Because their diets overlap, African lions and Nile crocodiles are fierce rivals. This rivalry surely leads to tremendous competition. There are past instances when lions will be drinking at the water’s edge and a crocodile will strike, dragging the big cat under the surface. It’s truly mesmerizing to watch such incredible animals come face-to-face with one another. Take a look at the interaction in the video below!
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