When male lions attempt to take over a territory, they must first drive off the resident male. If successful, they must still contend with the pride lionesses from whom they seldom receive a warm welcome.
JVZ filmed this dramatic footage in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve. It features the Ndzhenga males trying to impose themselves on the resident Nkuhuma pride.
Watch the video:
Mealtime disturbed
As the video begins, a lioness rises as an intruder disturbs her feeding. Her snarl signals that she is agitated by the unseen intruder.
Nearby, her sub-adult cub is resting. At this point, it appears unaware of the approaching threat.
Make yourself scarce
However, as the lioness turns to face the danger, the youngster finally gets the message and flees along with its siblings.
As you can imagine, with a fearsome lioness protecting them, the danger must be real and imminent for them to abandon their meal so hastily.
Emerging threat
Subsequently, the camera follows the lioness as two more lionesses join her. All three show aggressive body language with their heads low, ears pinned, and jaws grimacing menacingly.
Next, we see the reason why they are behaving as they are. Emerging from the adjacent bush, a mature male lion arrives on the scene.
The lionesses’ behaviour tells us that they do not know this male. We surmise that he is an intruder in their territory, intent on taking over the pride.
Cubs at risk
The male’s arrival also explains the sudden departure of the younger lions. When male lions take over, one of the first things they do is seek out and kill any immature lions.
They do so to wipe out their predecessor’s bloodline. By doing so, the lionesses are likely to become sexually receptive sooner.
Assuming, that is, that they accept the males. As the trio closes in on the male, it is apparent that they are far from doing so. Instead, they are intent on defending their offspring.
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Unfamiliar territory
Approached by three angry lionesses, the male is the first to flinch. Perhaps he is not used to having his authority challenged.
Consequently, the females launch a coordinated attack. As he turns to run, one of them digs her two-inch claws into his rump.
The scene then erupts into pandemonium. The air is filled with violent growling accompanied by flying fur. Although the male is considerably bigger and more powerful, his female adversaries threaten to overwhelm him.
At one point, one of the females bites the nape of the male’s neck. Were it not for the protective buffer of his mane, this could have caused a serious injury.
Even so, things are not looking good for the male, and by the looks of it, he should run while he still can.
Backup arrives
Suddenly, he breaks free of the melee and, with a few snarls of his own, drives back the females. We then detect a new sound in the cacophony.
Seconds later, another male charges onto the scene, loudly roaring and forcing the lionesses to flee. It is the first male’s ally, come to the aid of his embattled partner.
With that, the tables are turned. Having lost the advantage, the females run after their cubs.
Behind them, the two males continue to shake the Earth with their vocalising. They may not have taken over the pride yet, but they have certainly made a statement of intent that is hard to ignore.
