Lions might be the King of the Jungle, but they don’t actively stroll around looking for the perfect Queen. As a lion book would tell you, a lion’s mating opportunities are actually shaped around a wide range of factors including dominance and control, with much of the power resting with female lions. While the males want to continue their bloodline as a matter of instinct, it’s actually the lioness that typically decides when mating occurs. Let’s delve into the facts.

The Takeover of a Pride

In the wild, a male lion doesn’t automatically have the right to mate with a female. He must first take control of a pride, and this is usually done through conflict. When males leave the pride they were born into, they often form coalitions with brothers or cousins. Working together gives them a better chance of challenging leaders of another pride. If the new males win the takeover, they evict or kill the reigning males and gain mating rights with the pride’s females. If they’re unsuccessful, they’re killed or driven away by the resident males.

The most dominant male then usually mates first, but he can only mate with the female lions already living in the pride he now controls.

Females Hold the Power

Lionesses don’t have a mating season like other animals. Their fertile window is short and frequent, helping to maintain the stability of the pride. Everything from a loss of cubs to the arrival of new males can trigger fertility, and if a lioness isn’t pregnant or nursing she will become fertile every 2-3 weeks. This is called ‘going into estrus’.

The cycle is driven by many factors including hormonal rhythms. When a lioness wants to mate there will be clear signs, such as initiating contact with the male by rubbing against him or rolling on the ground. She can also be vocal or approach the male repeatedly.

Studies have shown that lionesses prefer males with darker, fuller manes as this is an indicator of good health and superior fighting ability. If a male is injured or weak, he is unlikely to mate at all.

Shared paternity

Lionesses often mate with several male members of the pride over several days. This confuses paternity so that all the males in the coalition protect the cubs, rather than killing the offspring of one male to favour their own.

Lionesses within a pride often go into estrus all together. This gives females a chance to choose their preferred mates, and means cubs are all born around the same time. As a result, it’s easier for the females to collectively look after the cubs, raising their chances of survival.

See a dominant lion on stage

If you’re fascinated by lions, don’t miss The Lion Inside live on stage this summer. Based on the lion story book by Rachel Bright and Jim Field, this wonderful theatre show is perfect for kids aged three and up, bringing The Lion Inside book to life with songs, dancing and enchanting puppetry. Book your tickets on the UK tour today and catch the show in London, Southampton or Chelmsford.