Lionesses at Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
Lions are social felines and are the only cats that live in groups, called prides. A pride may comprise of 3 to 40 individuals, including adults, sub-adults (between the ages of 2 and 4) and cubs, plus one or more resident males. Significant factor regarding the size of the pride is its dependence on the abundance of prey availability in that habitat.
Females usually stay in their mothers' prides for life, unless food scarcity forces them out. Usually all the lionesses in the pride are related - mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and sisters. Young males eventually leave or may be evicted and may establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male. In India, female and male Asiatic Lions mostly live apart, joining only to mate. How to reach Gir National Park?
Both male and female Lions mark their territories either by roaring - which can be heard up to five miles away - and scent marking with urine.
Females raise the cubs and are the primary hunters, although males will sometimes join females during a hunt. Depending on the prey, several lions may stalk prey from different angles before attacking the targeted animal. Nomadic males usually hunt alone or scavenge from other animals.
