The reproduction monopoly lions have over a whole group of females is the only one of it's kind in the animal kingdom. Where lions are plentiful, a single lion has little chance of winning or holding a pride's territory. Once begun, the advantage of competing cooperatively should theoretically lead to bigger and bigger coalitions, ending up in gang warfare; yet coalitions of over 4 males are rare. Large groups have problems, starting with assembling and coordinating all the members.

More important, a big coalition destabilizes lion society by taking over different prides then failing to defend them all, with fewer surviving offspring the end result. Coalition partners are usually related males that left their pride as adolescents and stayed together as nomads until mature and ready to compete. Lone nomads also join forces and can form coalitions as cohesive as sibling teams.













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The typical Lion mother has 3 cubs/litter, after 14 to 15 weeks of gestation. Females start their breeding cycles a the age of t 4. This is a year earlier than males.

Surprisingly, coalition partners hardly ever fight over mating rights. The first to reach a female in heat becomes her consort—until and unless he has had enough. As partners are usually equals, fighting would impair their ability to withstand takeover attempts.

Lions Weigh only 2 to 4.5 lb. when born. Their eyes open around 3 days and they begin to walk at 10 to 15 days, run at 1 month. After 4 to 8 weeks in hiding, mother begins leading cubs to nearby kills. By 7 weeks they keep up with pride. Weaned at 1 to 10 months but remain dependent until 16 months at least.

Cub survival is highest when reproduction is synchronized, since communal suckling is most equable when there are no bigger cubs to hog the milk. Mothers won't wait for juvenile cubs that don't keep up with the pack that are older then 5 to 7 months. When large prey is hard to find mothers abandon weakened cubs unable to keep up, especially if there is only one.