Why are lions social animals?

[sanjay]

Well,
I respect the packer and his work but I disagree on some of points here Or I can say I have different perspective here
The main reason why lions are social animal is the open plain in which they live. Lion live in open plains and this doesn't give any advantage over animals which are living in dense forest, Only advantage is that you can run faster, that's why cheetah still surviving here. For animals like lions, which are heavier, bigger and less athletic when compared to leopard, cheetah and other small predators, it is beneficial to live in group.
Hyena clans are one of the major reason lions live in group. Hyena are social animals and they tackle any problem in group, that is why all predator except lion pride run away from them.
A single lion, specially lioness can not survive in place which is surrounded by hyenas and there is no place to hide (open plain).

Hunting:
I agree what is said by packer on above post by @SVTIGRIS, but in open plain it is hard to catch a prey, if your are bigger and slower compared to other predator and the prey. Living in group help them to catch preys. Now it does not matter whether your success rate is higher or not, but at least your getting something to eat when you live in group, may be allowed at last and only the some remaining piece of meats, but still you get to eat something. That's the advantage of living in group.

Raising cubs:
In this case I think, protection is important than suckling. I have seen many documentary in which at least 1 member of lioness group stay with cubs while the y go for hunting. And its important, reason is again open plain. In open plain a lion cubs can be easily killed if there are no one to protect them.

I agree with number game of lions to protect the territory but I will say that it is not the only reason for lions to live in groups. Reply