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AFRICAN SAVANNA HARE
In African mythology, the hare is a clever creature that gifted humanity with the village, the drum, and music. It’s very difficult to count savanna hares in the wild, mostly because it’s difficult to distinguish from the Cape hare. However, scientists are confident that savanna hares are abundant. In some areas of their range
MAMMALS
MAMMALS
AFRICAN LION
Scientific name: Panthera Leo
Sub-species: East African lion (P. l. .melanochaita)
Weight: 330 to 500+ lb.
Size: 48 in. at the shoulder
Life span: 10 to 14 years in the wild
Habitat: Open plains and light woodlands
Playable by: Seniors
Aggression level: High/Very high
Predators: Spotted hyena and Nile crocodile.
Predators of the young: African rock python, Martial eagle, African leopard, African cheetah, and Painted wolf
Basic behavior:
- African lions occupy the highest position on top of the land carnivore's food chain; with the advantage of being the biggest carnivore around,they are very opportunistic hunters, usually stealing kills instead of catching one themselves. However, they are still exceptional hunters being able to take down large prey and specializing in the catching of medium to large-sized ungulates. Lions spend on a regular basis between 19 and 21 hours of resting throughout the day and getting active during late afternoons to hunt, bond, moving to another area, playing ...etc. However, it doesn't change the fact that a lion even if it's full will still try to go for a prey item if the prey isn't paying enough attention, is moving towards it, or is showing signs of weakness.
- African lions are the world's most social cat, their skills in cooperative hunting and tight bonds between individuals throughout their lives is what makes them unique amongst the cat family. They are 2 types of social structures observed in African lions:
1. Prides are groups of related females who hunt, feed, rest, groom, and raise their cubs together. These groups usually start off with either alone female mating with a male, which she and her female offspring(s) stay within their territory while continuing the bloodline in it or a solitary or group of lionesses leaving their natal pride, because its the numbers of lions are too great in comparison to food availability or a threat of nomadic males which could threaten the lives of their cubs. Contrary to popular expectations, pride members are usually scattered into small groups that change from one day to the next, so it is rare to have all members in one spot at the same time. The prides are also aggressive to unrelated lions, however, if the pride is extremely small where they are too few females to continue the bloodline, other females may be allowed to join and reversibly.
2. Coalitions are groups of young adult or adult males of around the same age who have left their natal pride together in order to take over a new one in the future. Nonetheless, it is common for unrelated males to join a coalition of males who haven't yet established a territory, and on rare occasions, sons may join their fathers if they have been exiled together after a takeover. A coalition's main objective is to take over one pride or more and further their bloodline, to do that these groups have to remove the current territorial males who dominate the pride they are eyeing. Similarly to prides, coalitions rest, hunt, feed, and groom each other when together, however, they do not spend a lot of time together and usually spend it away from each other patrolling their established territories, mating, or for nomadic males, to test resident adult males.
- African lions don't have a set mating season or birthing season, however, the females in the pride usually come into estrus around the same time as the other adult lionesses in the pride. In lion society, it is the first claimer first-served, whoever has spent the most time with a particular female claims it as his own, and unless one male, in particular, is stronger than the one who claimed the female, then it is done. When a male takes interest in a female and vice versa, the pair will stick together alone for a few days to successfully mate, and during that time they rest, bond, hunt, and feed together. The males during that period are more aggressive than usual towards everything including other lions; on the other hand, the female usually rolls around on her back, directly cuddles with the male, and exposes her rump while flicking her tail to encourage the reproductive instincts of the male as well as making low mewling sounds. When the female comes into the end of the estrus cycle, the current consort loses interest in her, giving the opportunity for another coalition mate to maybe sire some of the cubs of his own.
- African lions are quite aggressive against most things that enter their personal space or when a lioness if being protective over young cubs. Lionesses generally don't fight if they have no reason to risk injuries, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and hippos are too be avoided even if their cubs are in danger of being attacked. Male lions though can sometimes stand their ground against buffalos and even herds if they feel they can intimidate them, however, if the buffalos aren't backing down the male will back off and won't risk injuries.
- African lions, like most big cats, are mainly ambush hunters, they prefer to lie in cover and get as close as possible to their prey or wait for it to make a mistake and come closer, during day time lions do not actively hunt and prefer to wait for their prey to get as close possible without them directly moving towards them (that behavior is only applied during day time.). If the prey hasn't it's back turned an experienced lion will rarely charge unless it's close enough to start chasing (30m or 32 yards). In prides, females do most of the hunting while the males usually trail behind and then claim their share or the entire kill. Though it isn't that male lions don't hunt or participate in ones, usually, males take part in buffalo, hippo, rhino, giraffe, and elephant hunts or when the prey targetted is still upon its feet when the males reach the scene. When hunting, lionesses can cooperatively hunt, but the individuals have no particular strategy and when hunting average prey sized animals, one lioness moves by herself and starts crouching while the rest either watch and wait for the quarry to be caught and join in order to subdue it .This doesn't mean that multiple lionesses can't join the first one on a hunt it just means if you're not hungry you'll probably won't engage in it at first, though other members can try to anticipate the prey's tragejectory and lie in ambush. (Don't tell members you're individual plans, keep you're strategies a secret)
Large prey hunting behavior below
Large prey is however hunted differently, because of their size, aggressive behaviors, and deadly weapons, ambushers will not be able to stop a buffalo if it comes in front of them. When the lions hunt a buffalo herd, they charge at it and try to make them run by either taking them by surprise or charging collectively at it. When the herd is finally running, the Lions take advantage of the panic, select a target, and pounce it. If at one point the herd charges back, the lions can either try again to scare the herd, but if they are not intimidated the lions will probably retreat, or they can persist and risk injuries.
(Do not pounce when being chased off by a buffalo herd, back away and if you want to scare off the herd just paw swipe or mock charge them by growling). When hunting young buffalos, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, and elephants, lions won't need to sneak up on it or coordinate an attack like previously mentioned, however when facing the mother of the juvenile animal they'll incircle them both and be relentless if either one is showing signs of weakness.
- African lions are extremely aggressive against other large predators especially those in competition with them for food, being the dominant apex predator of its ecosystem, they do not fear most predators except crocodiles and large groups of hyenas. They will readily kill or attack a young predator, an adult that is injured or distracted, or even a group who isn't paying attention to its surroundings. They will not actively risk injuries during conflict or actively look for other predators but if they happen to stumble upon the above then they will react accordingly, they will generally not eat those competitors though if they are not desperate for food.
Hyenas when in groups can represent a potential threat to prides when trying to protect their kill, usually the hyenas staying at a reasonable distance away from the kill usually don't pose a threat to the lions and are ignored. However when hyenas realize that they can overpower lions in a situation, they will start to come closer to the kill, and in that case, the lions will start to show more and more aggression and can eventually get up and even attack (Keep in mind the more you show aggression the more the hyenas will be aggressive it is your choice whether you want to risk injuries for a kill and putting your life on the line as well as the ones of your fellow pride mates.) It has been noted, that lions hesitating to attack will even allow for a moment a group of hyenas to feed before they make the decision to attack or leave, and even when they start to engage in aggressive behaviors the lions can allow the hyenas to come very close while assessing the situation. In these situations, the juvenile and sub-adult cubs usually retreat or stay on the carcass if the situation escalates to a full-on fight. Male lions on the other hand can change the entire scene in a snap, hyenas fear large healthy adult males and will never actually risk fighting one. Scavenger birds are tolerated as long as they are not too close to the lion (7-10 meter distance), though jackals in relatively small numbers are allowed to get near a pride and even more so when it's a male lion, as long as they don't get near the lion's eating spot.
- African lions share their kills with their pride or coalition mates however depending on how hungry they are or how small the carcass is they will behave differently. The smaller the carcass and the hungrier a lion is, the more aggressive it is towards its fellow pride and coalition mates, an impala carcass for example will easily be torn to pieces with adult lions fighting for it whereas a buffalo carcass will be shared with no major fighting or growling unless the entire pride or coalition is hungry and that there is not a lot of room to eat on the carcass. In aggressive feedings, lions can slap, and growl at each other, but it's usually a way for lions to say (Let me have my share and don't eat too close to me). Being the dominant authority around a carcass, adult male lions can decide to not share or eat at the same time with the lionesses and the cubs until he/they allow them to eat. Lions usually steal kills from other predators as previously mentioned but they will not risk an injury if it is not guaranteed and they don't scavenge very old carcasses.
- Lions in the Serengeti are not particularly fans of water, they can follow prey through water, as well as crossing the river, but there can always be a crocodile hidden beneath the surface, and water slows their movements so they are always hesitant in going in it.
Physical characteristics:
Lions are the second-largest living cats after tigers. Lions is a muscular, deep-chested cat with a short, rounded head, a reduced neck and round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. Male lions are unique among the cat species for their thick mane they have a range of different colors ranging from dark brownish colors to fully light blond ones. Both male and female lions roar a sound heard as far as 8 kilometers away.
Prey List:
1 resort: Zebra, Wildebeest, Topi, Hartebeest, Roan antelope, Warthog, Bushbuck, Female Eland and Aardvark.
2 resort: Thomson's gazelle, Impala, Gerenuk, Olive baboon, Grant's gazelle, Female waterbuck, Crested Porcupine, Bat-eared fox, Black-backed jackal, and Ostrich chick
Pride 1 resort: Male waterbuck, Oryx, Eland, Young Cape Buffalo, and Ostrich.
Pride 2 resort: lone Juvi Elephant, Giraffe, Sub-Adult hippopotamus, Cape buffalo, and Juvi rhino.
Coalition resort: Eland, Cape buffalo, Oryx, Male waterbuck, Juvi giraffe, Juvi elephant, Juvi rhino, and Juvi hippo.
(Note: you need 3 individuals to do a pride hunt resort 1 and need 5 individuals to do a pride hunt resort 2.)
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AFRICAN LION CONSERVATION STATUS
VULNERABLE
Previously all lions from the genus Panthera leo were found through sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian peninsula, Eurasia, and Greece. Lions were exterminated throughout most of their range except in sub-Saharan Africa and a small forest in India. The wild population of African lions is estimated to be 20,000, they are threatened by loss of habitat and prey item and conflict with farmers fearing for their life stock poisoning and shotting them as well as poaching and trophy hunting.
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Male Roles/Reactions:
- Male lions will never remain in their natal pride forever when becoming young adults their fathers will tolerate them less around them and the pride. If they are found on a kill they will not be allowed to eat ... etc. Which will lead the young males to leave their natal pride by necessity, however in the absence of their fathers they can be kicked out of the pride by other males or they may be killed or they can themselves decide to leave the pride and lead nomadic lives for the next few years of their life until they are ready to challenge.
- Nomadic males lead very simple lives, hunting, sleeping, and venture into borders of other pride territories. Because they are younger and have less impressive manes, young males mostly target prey that lionesses would target rather than what adult males would target like buffalo or giraffes. Nomadic males can during this time allow new males to join their coalition, but the newcomer might very well be hazed and not allowed near them, but will be accepted among the coalition or solitary eventually after a few days (a solid 12 min in-the game, you also are allowed to completely exclude the individual trying join, but do not tell it in chat or vc, make him understand by being very violent and intolerant of him)
- Takeovers are a long process, generally, prime adult nomadic males already enter the territories and try to attract females under the dominance of resident males to attempt mating with them. However, when a coalition or a solitary male feel they are confident enough and are big enough to enter the heart of the territory they will, and at that point, encounters will start to happen and the take over can happen in a few hours or can take days. If the nomads lose their combat they'll probably leave and only come back after months or even a year.
- If a take over is successful the new resident males will kill any juvenile cub they find, subadult males meet the exact same fate if they don't leave but females can stay if they are sub-adults. They'll also make sure their borders are secured. Being dominant males, they now have access to food as a priority and can take the corpse away if they want.
- Dominant males are generally not fond of playing with their cubs, so depending on their personalities and mood dominant males will either tolerate a bit their cubs playing with them relatively gently or not at all. But if a male doesn't want anything to do with the cubs or just gets annoyed by them he'll growl and mock bite them so they get the message. They also do not take part in the rearing of their offspring. Dominant males also don't tolerate fights and displays of dominance or aggression towards others or them, they'll actively attack whoever is causing the most trouble and roar to assert their dominance.
Interspecific competition: Painted wolf, Spotted hyena, African Leopard, and African cheetah
Call and Emotes meanings:
1. Roaring is used to locate individuals or for males to affirm their dominance on the territory of an individual they just defeated, even an adult individual in the pride not involved by the fight can roar too.
2. Growl used to intimidate other lions or other animals during a fight or standoff.
3. Greetings and mutual grooming are used by lions to show happiness or reaffirm social bonds with an individual.
4- Smelling is done when a lion has left a strong odor like a scent marking or when a lion inspects the corpse of a lion he knew.
Female Roles/Reactions:
- If a female is in heat she will attract the male away from the pride, then flick her tail in front of the male and roll on her back to make the male understand that she is ready. Females in oestrus will also allow nomad males to approach otherwise they will flee or attack if she has cubs. They also tend to prefer males with black manes over others mainly because it's a sign of strength and power in the lions while the unhealthy males have blond manes.
- When a female is about to give birth she will seek a hiding spot so that they are safe not only from predators but from lions of her own pride, while they are hidden she will stay away from the pride and hunt alone. Once they are old enough to follow their mother they will meet members of the pride. The first meetings can be quite tense and the mother could react aggressively to sub-adults and adult males coming close, however, adult males could be aggressive in return so females will usually display both signs of aggression and submission. Females have a very strong bond with their cubs and will protect them from all possible threats, except elephants, hippos, rhinos, and crocodiles drowning them.
- Females from the same pride can babysit and even nurse each other's cubs while the rest of the pride is out hunting however, when moving from one place to the next the pride cannot afford to stop especially if they have young cubs with them. Therefore if a lion falls behind for a very long time the pride cannot afford to wait for its unhealthy member. On the other hand, females from the same pride collectively defend each other's cubs and pride mates from all threats except those that put them in a situation where injuries can be very fatal.
- When a cub dies the mother will guard the corpse against scavengers and being aggressive over any other lion that tries to come near the corpse. Eventually, she will have to leave her dead infant or eat him (if it's very young) and go on with the rest of the pride
AFRICAN LION TERRITORY MAPS:
![African Lion Territories.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea8bfc_92355b20ba024c64ad7681b47032e18d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_554,h_528,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/African%20Lion%20Territories.png)
BLUE AREA: This represents a territory in the western area englobing almost half the map
ORANGE AREA: This represents a territory in the eastern area englobing most of the east side of the map
NO COLORED AREAS: Areas where individuals with no territory can stay.
Juvenile Roles/Reactions:
- The cubs are playful at all times and age, but when they become adults the play settles and happens less often than before. Confrontations with adult lions usually push any immature lion into submission instantly to not get injured. Juvenile cubs also tend to start biting and pouncing on prey pinned down or already controlled by the pride to practice hunting.
- When reaching the young adult stages the cubs will start to hunt on their own properly and when they are ready they can even help their pride get food on some hunts.
- If a takeover happens during a time when the cubs are sub-adults/young adults they will most likely have to leave or be killed by the new males. Females have a better chance to stay but the males could either accept them or not.
WROTE BY ENDERSHADOW
![Hugo_Sunset_2-2048x1365.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ea8bfc_6a1f16f0800448f782174c6e2731e3b0~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_123,h_82,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Hugo_Sunset_2-2048x1365.png)
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