There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(07-31-2022, 05:05 PM)Duco Ndona Wrote: If he continues behaving as a territorial male, keeps drawing attention by rroaring, doesnt contribute in hunting etc and keeps stealing pride kills. The pride will be better of without him.
I'm sorry but that's not how it works. Male lions are a drain on pride resources; it's just the way lion behaviour is. That said, males do contribute and they do get the lion's share, as it were. It's the trade off the pride makes for being able to raise cubs into the next generation for the pride. Also, there seems to be a misconception about 'drawing attention'. Lions roar and scent mark. Again, it is lion behaviour. When they go silent it's an indication of now going under the radar, becoming semi-nomadic nomadic altogether or ceasing to exist.
During the culling period in the Kruger, it was noted with some surprise at how quickly areas where culling of lions had taken place were inhabited again by other lions. Scent and sound are enormously important to lion dynamics, it just about provides a map of what is around them and defines territories and when there is no sound or scent from an area lions eventually move into it. Having a territorial male is what binds lion prides together and keeps out the competition and without them, even if it is just one male, pride dynamics would collapse as males would come and go, the lionesses would be extremely overstressed and cubs would simply not get the chance to reach adulthood. You can't really say the pride would be better off without him and expect it to be true in practice as what you think would happen with him i.e. males coming in because they know he's there, will happen anyway if males think the territory is unoccupied. The pride stands a better chance with him behaving as a territorial male and at least attempting to defend them than have them open to incursions and the uncertainty of nomad life.
Now whether he will actually stay and defend or be able to hold the territory is unclear. I am not saying he will stay nor saying that he will be able hold it but that:
1. The pride needs stability and a territorial male gives that and that Skorro would hopefully behave like one.
2. The uncertainty of the bush at any time means that Skorro being ousted in a takeover, should he stay, is by no means a foregone conclusuon.
3. Any pride with cubs/sub adults are better off with a territorial male, even if it's just a single male, than without one and being forced to live on the margins to protect them.