Stalking Lioness on the Savanna

About this drawing

A stalking lioness rarely works alone, because the females in a pride have perfected a system of cooperative hunting. They are lighter and quicker than males, and they don't have a big mane giving them away in the grass, so they make most of the kills.

A hunt begins with patient watching. The group locates a herd of wildebeest or zebras, checks which way the wind is blowing and settles on a target, often a young, old or straggling animal. Then the lionesses fan out and creep forward, low to the ground, freezing whenever their prey raises its head.

Studies in Namibia suggest that certain females tend to take the same position hunt after hunt. Those on the wings circle around the flanks and push prey toward the middle, where teammates wait to intercept it. It's a division of roles that looks a lot like a sports team running a play.

Everything comes down to the final yards, because a lion can't sustain a long pursuit. If the charge starts too far out, the wildebeest gets away. Even with all this planning, most attempts fail, and a group may need several tries before anyone eats. Darkness, clouds over the moon and tall grass all improve their odds.

• lioness
• hunting
• wildebeest
• savanna
• pride