First a short exposé on Lions:
Lions are the only cats which live in prides. They do so to defend a
territory containing a permanent water supply. Most prides are in the
10-20 range but there was a famous pride of over 100 in the Gorongoza
coastal game reserve near Beira (Mozambique) in the 1950's. (I have seen
old footage of that). This game reserve was ruined in the recent bush
war. Prides comprise a group of Lionesses, at least 1 breeding Lion and
cubs. The Lionesses do most of the work (raising cubs & hunting). The
males only get involved in the hunting of big stuff like Buffalos &
Elephant where their great strength is required. One or two Lionesses
run a nursery for the small cubs while the rest hunt. Larger cubs are
slowly introduced to the hunt. Young males are ejected from the pride
when they are about 2 & live in bachelor groups until they are able to
"take over" a pride. Many are killed trying. This savagery is necessary
to diversify the gene pool. Old Lions, ejected from their prides, live
on their wits for a year or two in a lonely, solitary life. Dominant
breeding males are in the 4-7 year age group. Lionesses can live as long
as 12 years. When a new male takes over a pride he kills any young males
which may still be present, thereby putting his genetic stamp on the pride.
One a Lioness's cubs are weaned, she becomes interested in sex again &
flirts with the dominant male. She needs to be stimulated into oestrus
by sex. The pair move to a secluded spot away from the pride & get on
with it - a couple of hundred copulations over several days, neither
eating nor drinking during this period. The male cannot even risk
leaving for drink in case another male intervenes! Each encounter is
very quick - less that a minute.
There are plenty of opportunities for a photographer fortunate enough to
be ensconced in a prime spot & with plenty of patience. We only waited
about half an hour. There was another chap set up for the long haul. The
spot was an embankment overlooking a road which made it look as if the
Lions were on stage. (If they were human, we would call it pornography)
You comments about human royalty are close to the mark - they have a
terrible reputation - notably the Tudors & one still living. DNA
research may well show some "anomalies" in the accepted lines of descent!
Here is a link to an image just prior to the event:
Lion pair near Letaba Camp, Kruger Park. | Flickr
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/wisselstroom/50843998767/in/datetaken-public/>
Alan C
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