IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Stander, P.E.; Albon, S.D. | |
| Hunting succes of lions in a semi-arid environment Mammals as Predators | |
| 1993 Conference Proceeding | |
Parameters that influence the hunting succes of lions in a semi-arid region in Namibia were assessed by means of generalized linear models. Results indicate that when combined, hunting techniques employed by lionesses, lioness group size, prey species, time of day (day/night), terrain, and the interaction between terrain and day/night had significant independent effects on the probability that a hunt would be successful. Hunts that involved co-ordinated stalking were more likely to succeed than other hunt categories. Success of hunting the five major prey species increased linearly with lioness group size. Lionesses were also more successful during hunts on moonless nights in undulating terrain. Under the semi-arid conditions in Namibia, where lions are exposed to eight months of food scarcity in an open habitat, group hunting and co-ordinated co-operation are the most important variables influencing the outcome of hunts and therefore also per capita food intake. In this environment group hunting may be an important factor in the evolution of sociality in the species. |
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