Lions of Sabi Sands

[Mapokser]

@Cath2020 Cubs don't make lions more willing to fight, females in estrus do, they will defend cubs if they're seeing something attacking them, but won't think "damn I have to put more effort in defending the territory than normal because I have cubs". Never mind fighting to the death, some lions may die in such disputes initiated by them, but they'd be risking their lives with the perspective of defending the territory and keeing the benefits that comes with it, not with cubs in mind. Only the females sacrifices themelves for the cubs. The bond between male and cubs exist and not hurting them is in the interest of the males, sometimes they even share food with cubs, but for what I see it's more out of a paternal instinct than an actual bond/love like they share between coalition partners.

For the BDM they have everything to lose, they have just taken over a big pride and are mating with a bunch of females. Of course it doesn't mean they'll be willing to engage 4 males, what I'm saying, or rather my point is that they wouldn't be any more motivated if they had cubs, if anything they'd be a bit less motivated if they had no current females in heat.

As for other possibilities further north, sure they'd have plenty, though the aging Mbiris you talk about are still probably the strongest duo ever seen, this might change in the next years but as of right now they're much stronger than the BDM. Reply