Some days a male lion really does seem to be king. A pride, or group, of lions usually has only one or two adult male lions who serve as leaders. These males tend to be brothers. Even though female lions do most of the hunting, the males eat first. They are also big enough to steal food from other animals like hyenas. The male leaders protect the pride and decide where their territory will be. If they are strong enough to take over as leaders of a pride, they will kill the cubs of other male lions and father their own cubs.

Other days it’s a tough life to be a male lion. When a male lion is about three years old, he is forced to leave the pride and live on his own until he is strong enough to create or take over a pride himself. Some lions remain alone throughout their lives. This is a very difficult life because it is much harder for a lion to hunt and protect itself on its own. Usually, a male lion can only stay the leader of a pride for about two years before he is driven away or killed and the pride is taken over by another lion.

Though a young, old, injured or sick lion may become the prey of a hyena, a healthy adult lion has no natural predators other than man.