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Overview
ED_NOMAD.TXT
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Nomadic Female
ED_NOMAD.TXT
7
2
Nomadic Male
ED_NOMAD.TXT
6
3
Nomads and Prides
ED_NOMAD.TXT
4
3
Territoriality
ED_NOMAD.TXT
5
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Female companions
4008_05P.PCX
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Lionesses at the kill
4026_04P.PCX
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Lonely lioness
4080_14P.PCX
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Male alone in the world
4053_27P.PCX
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Male in the grass
4172_34P.PCX
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Males meet on the road
105037P.PCX
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Pair of lions
4078_21P.PCX
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Two males resting
4171_43P.PCX
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Rubbing Heads
4008_59P.FLC
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Running Male
RUNING.FLC
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#
18
In the Serengeti, it may be difficult
to distinguish pride lions from
nomadic lions because some
nomads form small groups from
time to time.

However, prides and nomads differ
in the amount of territory they
roam in their quest for food, and
in the way in which they tolerate
-- or do not tolerate -- other
strange lions.

This section examines some of the
ways that prides and nomads 
differ, and takes a  look at the
social relationships that exist
between nomads.


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#
15
The nomadic "social life"consists of
brief encounters with nomads or
groups of nomads,  of both sexes,
some lasting for a few hours and
others for a few days.

Unlike pride members, nomads
may accept "strangers," although
some territoriality can be
exhibited by male nomads.

Nomads may travel in pairs of
two, and sometimes the pair
will be sub-adults who have left
the same pride together.


#
19
These "companions" feed, rest, and
hunt together.

Nomads tend to remain in
companion relationships except
during courtship.

Nomads often wander widely
throughout the Serengeti,
following the migratory herds.

In general, nomadic life seems to
hold several disadvantages over
pride life:

-- single lions cannot use "team
   work" to capture and bring
   down prey, as is the case in
   a pride;



#
19
-- the size of the prey must be
   smaller than with a pride, and
   thus there is less food
   available;

-- in addition, a single lion can
   be driven away from a kill by
   other predators.

However, in spite of these
disadvantages, pride membership
among males still remains a
mostly transitory affiliation,
and at any time a pride lion may
switch and take to the proverbial
hills...or, in this case, to the 
wide, open savanna where nomads 
are most commonly found.

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#
18
The region occupied by a nomad
is called a "range."  Nomadic
ranges can cover as much  as
1800 square miles (4700 square
kilometers)!  

It is estimated that the average
nomadic range is about 10 times
that of the average pride area.

Some lions make a "regular 
circuit" each year from the
woodlands to the plains and back
to the woodlands, covering great
distances. But this movement is 
somewhat dependent upon weather
conditions and availability
of prey.


#
19
Most nomads remain in one
locality for a few days, or maybe
a week, before moving on,
although some stay longer. Male
nomads who return to the same
vicinity season after season may
defend them much as pride males
defend their pride areas. 

However, territories in the plains
are still temporary, and are
abandoned during the dry season,
even if they are re-claimed during
the rainy season.

The greatest difference between
pride and nomadic lions appears
to be in the way they accept 
each other into their groups.



#
14
While an approaching lion may at
first receive a "cold" reception, or
even be chased away,  it is often
accepted eventually.  In any case,
if a kill has been made, the 
stranger may be permitted to
share some of the food.

In addition, since nomads roam so
much, they often "run into" each
other at intervals, and, unlike
pride lions or territorial nomads,
they are willing to greet and
socialize with one another.





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6

#
16
With nomads, the response toward
each other varies as to whether or
not the lion is  territorial.

In prides, there is no question:
They are territorial, and males 
fight off males, and females fight
off females.

Nomads, on the other hand, pause
to casually greet one another.

When it comes to mating, both
male and female nomads court
and mate withboth pride and
nomadic lions.


#
17
Male nomads sometimes take over
a pride and its resident lionesses,
wresting control from the pride
leader. Sometimes this is
accomplished by intimidation, and
sometimes by direct fighting.

Or, they take over a pride of
lionesses whose previous leader
has parted from them, or has been
killed.  The lionesses generally
accept the new leader as he asserts
his dominance over the pride.

After the males take over a pride,
they assume the responsibility of
guarding the pride area.


#
6
Female nomads may remain for a
time with a male nomad,
especially while courting or 
raising their young, but they 
generally do not form long-term
commitments.



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7


#
19
Roughly 2/3 of sub-adult lionesses
choose to leave their prides and
become nomads.

This transition usually occurs at
about 3 years of age, before they
have gone into estrus.

Female nomads tend to leave a
pride together and form
temporary companion
relationships.

Once a female has separated from
her pride and become nomadic,
she may be accepted by other
nomads, and by both nomadic and
pride male lions when she is 
in estrus.


#
20
Pride lionesses tend to have more
success in raising their cubs than
nomads, probably because the
pride allows for communal raising
and suckling of the cubs, as well
as additional protection.

Female nomads travel alone or in
pairs, either with males or other
females. Some females become
permanent companions similar to
pride lionesses, although this 
is rare.

For the most part, even though
there is nothing to prevent
nomads from establishing long-
term bonds, both males and 
females tend to prefer the
transitory life.
