Lion - Behavior

Nocturnal and diurnal, hunting mainly at night, dawn, and dusk. Lions are the exception among the cat family in that they are social, with adult males and females living together in groups called 'prides'. The core of each pride is a group of closely related females (usually two to six, sometimes up to 12) and their cubs, together with a coalition of two to four (up to six) mature males who are often closely related to each other (brothers and cousins), but not to the females. Lionesses usually remain in their natal pride for the whole of their lives. Young males are forced to leave their pride, usually when they are two or three years old, thereby preventing inbreeding. Until they are big and powerful enough to attempt to oust males from another pride, these young males must lead the life of nomads.