Lionesses are the primary hunters of the pride. They are smaller and more agile than males and they use teamwork to bring an animal down. After a successful hunt, all the lions in the pride share the meal. But there is a pecking order, with the adult males eating first, followed by the lionesses and finally the cubs.
A lioness strolling at Gir National Park, Gujarat, India.
Lionesses are the primary hunters, while dominant males are responsible for protecting the pride’s territory. Lion prey includes deer, buffalo, and other grassland animals. Here is a lioness in Gir National Forest standing over a kill and carrying it away in the deep forest.
Lionesses outnumber males by a substantial margin, despite a near 50% male/female birth ratio. This is probably due to the tendency of males to be nomads, take on more dangerous game, and be killed in pride takeover attempts. Lionesses are loving mothers who demonstrate communal care of cubs, with lactating mothers allowing any cub to suckle. Females employ a cooperative model of child-rearing, with one female staying behind to watch over the cubs while the other females hunt.
Here is a lioness strolling around in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India.
Among its varied collection of sculptures at Brookgreen Gardens, there are quite a few of animals.
“Lioness and Cub” by Hope Yandell – A female lion with her young cub. The lioness is standing, front left paw raised slightly. Her head is turned in the direction of her cub. They are positioned in a natural setting on a rock formation over a small pool.
Prowling in the Jungle
“Brown Bears” by Anna Hyatt Huntington is a bronze sculpture of a group of three bears
Brown Bears
Lioness Stalking
The purposeful, almost crouching stride of a lioness as she stalks the next prey in Ngorongoro Park in Tanzania
Sunbathing Lioness
A lioness enjoys the sun at Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
Photos by Ravi 