Research overview: hunting success and group size in lions

A survey of how cooperative group hunting affects capture success in lions, one of the few social felids. Evidence shows that hunting success often increases with group size for large or difficult prey such as buffalo, but for small prey solitary or paired hunting can be equally effective, and free-riding within groups complicates the picture. This overview synthesizes Serengeti, Etosha and Kruger studies on per-capita food intake, the role of individual hunting roles and habitat cover, and whether group living is driven by hunting efficiency or by other benefits like kill defense and cub protection. It connects to the long debate over why lions are social and to functional-response considerations. The topic illustrates the nuanced economics of cooperative predation in big cats.