• hark@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Yep, this magnified lion population issues since poachers would kill the lion and then a new one would step in, killing all the cubs, but then he’d also get poached and the process would repeat before cubs could grow.

    • pdxfed@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      So what is the normal natural balance to males killing their offspring? Obviously more pregnant lions is good genetic trait to have, but dead babies does not reenter gene pool. Super aggressive moms to defend against dad?

      • prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        The strong protector prevents his cubs from being killed, preventing a new male from moving in.

        This selects for genetically superior males OR younger more vigorous males.

        Experience tips the balance of power so that youth can’t just win.

        The natural balance is that the male isn’t removed from the equation before the equation can be written on the board.

      • hark@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Female lions better at defense or male lions that are better at not getting poached, I guess.

        • uphillbothways@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          Don’t female lions do most/all of the hunting and child rearing anyway?
          Male lions don’t do shit but fight with other male lions (and kill cubs.)

          • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            1 year ago

            Male lions hunt a lot more than previously thought, they just do it at night when it’s hard to observe it happening without special equipment.

            Male lions only stay with a given pride for 2-3 years on average before getting kicked out, so every month the lionesses spend nursing another lion’s cubs reduces the amount of time he has to make his own cubs.