The lives of male lions are difficult!
They start in life by being looked after very well by their mothers and other female family members until they reach two to three years of age.
Once their father has driven them away (to avoid adult male competition), they now have to fend for themselves. They have to hunt for themselves and avoid encounters with any dominant or territorial males.
Only one out of ten ever gets to take over a territory (and its prides) once they are grown adults. All others perish in the process.
Sometimes brothers from the same litter stay together through this process and form what is called a ‘male coalition’.
Or they meet one or more unrelated young males during their growing-up period and form such a coalition.
They will then move around together, hunt together, and protect one another from dangers. They will also fight other males on the way to the top together.
If they are strong enough and lucky enough, they will replace another male (or another coalition) as dominant males in a territory.
And this is when the trouble starts…
Once they encounter a female in estrus, they will usually fight one another for the right to mate (to propagate their own genes).
If one of them is significantly stronger than the other(s), then the fight is over quickly, and the submissive male(s) back off to let the dominant coalition partner mate with the female.
Once the mating period is over (usually after a few days), the males team up again as if nothing had happened.
But if two of the males are matched in strength and determination, then the situation can get quite serious, and the fights for the ladies can result in serious injuries and even death of one of the contestants.
This picture shows a male just after he had an argument with his brother over a female.
The next day, the lioness was gone, and they were once again together, even licking one another’s wounds.
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 160 | 1/500 sec | f6.3 | EV +0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
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