Factors affecting the hunting success of male and female lions in the Kruger National Park
Abstract
Abstract Long‐term continuous observations of hunting lions Panthera leo in the Kruger National Park were used to assess the variables affecting hunting success of male and female lions. Generalized linear models revealed that seven variables had significant independent influences on hunting success, with the most important being the prey species hunted. Three types of variables were recognized: (1) lion related, where type of hunt, wind orientation, and the number of adults hunting; (2) prey related, where prey species and herd size; (3) environment related, where moon brightness, and grass height were significant. The sex of the lions had no effect on the overall probability of hunting success. Five second‐order interactions significantly influenced the probability of hunting success, with the most important being the interaction between sex and the type of prey. The only significant third‐order interaction containing the variable sex, was the inter‐relationship with prey species and shrub cover. After removing the over‐riding bias of the prey species, greater resolution of the factors affecting success was revealed. The major difference was that group size influences hunting success and concomitantly prey selection, promoting selection for medium‐sized ungulates like zebra Equus burchelli and wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus by females, and males mainly capturing buffalo Syncerus caffer. We conclude that in African ecosystems, the hunting success of male and female lions varies with a range of combinations of lion‐, prey‐ and environment‐related variables. We demonstrate the hunting ability of male lions, which has perhaps been understated in other studies.
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The relative importance of environmental variables for lion hunting can differ across prey species, lion group sizes and ecosystems.
“However, the relative importance of these variables can differ across prey species, lion group sizes and ecosystems [23,36,37].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Wind speed was important in arid savanna environments, but only for select prey species, whereas it was inconsequential elsewhere.
“Wind speed, for example, was important in arid savanna environments, but only for select prey species [37], whereas it was inconsequential elsewhere [23].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Lions generally hunt more successfully on darker nights when it is easier to hide.
“Lions generally hunt more successfully on darker nights when it is easier to hide [23,36], and when wind orientation favors stalking [38], enabling them to approach downwind of and closer to potential prey.”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Dense vegetation lions utilize when hunting in Addo could make increased wind speeds particularly useful because of increased noise during windy conditions.
“The dense vegetation lions utilize when hunting in Addo could make increased wind speeds particularly useful because of increased noise during windy conditions (as opposed to more open savanna environments where wind speed has been considered less influential [23] or only important for select prey species [37]).”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Although vegetation structure has previously been recognized as an important component of lion hunting success, it has been considered less influential relative to other environmental variables.
“Although vegetation structure has previously been recognized as an important component of lion hunting success [16,19,36,37], it has been considered less influential relative to other environmental variables [23].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Hunting success decreases when cubs or sub-adults are present.
“Moreover, hunting success decreases when cubs or sub-adults are present [23], and since the majority of female lion groups larger than singletons in Addo are comprised of mothers with cubs, there is no advantage to hunting in the open, even with increased group size.”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
In savannas, female lion hunting success generally increases with group size, and cooperative hunting is most effective in open areas where predators benefit by encircling prey.
“In savannas, female lion hunting success generally increases with group size [23,36,37], and cooperative hunting is most effective in open areas where predators benefit by encircling prey [23].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Impala were more often encountered by lions in dense bush, where darkness was considered less important because lions could rely on the cover provided by the vegetation.
“Impala were more often encountered by lions in dense bush [52], where darkness was considered less important because lions could rely on the cover provided by the vegetation [23].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
In Kruger National Park, moonlight was considered the most important environmental variable affecting hunting success, but not during impala hunts.
“In Kruger National Park, moonlight was considered the most important environmental variable affecting hunting success, but not during impala, Aepyceros melampus, hunts [23].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Although moonlight has been found to be important elsewhere, it is likely less influential in Addo because of the dense vegetation.
“Although found to be important elsewhere [23,36], it is likely less influential in Addo because of the dense vegetation.”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
Small lion group sizes in Addo possibly prevent successful hunting of large groups of buffalo, which generally requires larger groups of lions.
“The small lion group sizes in Addo possibly prevent successful hunting of large groups of buffalo, which generally requires larger groups of lions [23].”
From Effects of Vegetation Structure on the Location of Lion Kill Sites in African Thicket (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
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- Authors
- Funston, P. J., Mills, M. G. L., & Biggs, H. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
- South African National Parks (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Funston, P. J.
- ORCID
- Mills, M. G. L.
- Venue
- Journal of Zoology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2001-04
- Volume
- 253
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 419-431
- ISSN
- 0952-8369 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7998
- OpenAlex
- W2121553058
- Cited by
- 199
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 3.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Zoology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Panthera
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Keywords
- lion, prey selection, group hunting, herd size, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, grass height, shrub cover, Kruger National Park
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