Hunting by male lions: ecological influences and socioecological implications

Funston, Mills and Biggs challenged the stereotype that male lions are merely scavengers reliant on females' kills. Working in Kruger National Park, they showed that male lions hunt effectively, particularly in dense vegetation along rivers, where they ambush buffalo and other large prey, while females hunt more in open habitats. Males' larger size suits them to tackling big, dangerous prey, and habitat structure strongly influenced who hunted what. The study quantified sex differences in lion predation and habitat use, revising the understanding of male foraging ecology. It is a key reference for how body size, vegetation cover and prey type shape division of hunting roles within lion prides and coalitions.