<P> Asiatic lion prides differ from African prides in group composition . Male Asiatic lions are solitary or associate with up to three males forming a loose pride . Pairs of males rest and feed together, and display marking behaviour at the same sites . Females associate with up to 12 females forming a stronger pride together with their cubs . They share large carcasses among each other, but seldom with males . Female and male lions associate only when mating . Coalitions of males hold a territory for a longer time than single lions . Males in coalitions of three to four individuals exhibit a pronounced hierarchy with one male dominating the others . Dominant males mate more frequently than their coalition partners . During a study carried out between December 2012 and December 2016, three females were observed switching mating partners in favour of the dominant male . </P> <P> Lions are generalist hypercarnivores and usually hunt in groups . Their prey consists mainly of mammals, particularly ungulates, with a preference for wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, gemsbok, and giraffes in Africa and chital, sambar deer, nilgai, wild boar, chinkara and chousingha in India . African lions prefer prey weighing 190--550 kg (420--1,210 lb). They generally avoid fully grown adult elephants, hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses, as well as very small prey like dik - dik, hyrax, hare and vervet monkey . However, Thomson's gazelles may be hunted and warthogs are often taken depending on availability, despite being below the preferred weight range . In many areas, a small number of species may make up around three - fourths of the lion's diet . In Serengeti National Park, wildebeest, zebras and gazelle are the majority of prey . In Kruger National Park, giraffes are the most common prey . In Manyara Park, Cape buffaloes constitute as much as 62% of the lion's diet . In the Okavango Delta, with its strong seasonal changes in prey, up to eight species may make up three quarters of a lion's diet . Occasionally adult hippopotamus are taken at Gorongosa National Park and calves are commonly hunted at Virunga National Park . In addition to size, the aquatic nature of hippos makes them normally unavailable as prey . The lions of Savuti, Botswana, have adapted to hunting young elephants during the dry season, and a pride of 30 lions has been recorded killing individuals between the ages of four and eleven years . Lions also attack domestic livestock and in India cattle contribute significantly to their diet . Unusual prey items include porcupines and small reptiles . Lions will kill other predators such as leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas, but they seldom devour them . </P> <P> Young lions first display stalking behaviour around three months of age, although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost a year old . They begin to hunt effectively when nearing the age of two . Single lions are capable of bringing down prey like zebra and wildebeest, which can be twice their own weight, while hunting larger prey like giraffes and buffalo alone is too much of a risk . Cooperative - hunting lions are usually successful . In prides, lionesses do most of the hunting . In typical hunts, each lioness has a favoured position in the group, either stalking prey on the "wing" then attacking, or moving a smaller distance in the centre of the group and capturing prey in flight from other lionesses . Males attached to prides do not usually participate in group hunting . However, some evidence suggests that pride males are just as successful as females; they are solo hunters who ambush prey in small bush . Lions are not particularly known for their stamina--for instance, a lioness' heart makes up only 0.57% of her body weight (a male's is about 0.45% of his body weight), whereas a hyena's heart is close to 1% of its body weight . Thus, they only run fast in short bursts, and need to be close to their prey before starting the attack . They take advantage of factors that reduce visibility; many kills take place near some form of cover or at night . In addition, since lions are such ambush hunters, humans farming in the vicinity have recently found that lions are easily discouraged if they think their prey has spotted them . To protect their cattle from such attacks with that knowledge in mind, farmers have found that all that they have to do is simply paint eyes on the hindquarters of each cow, which is usually enough for hunting lions to think they are spotted and move to easier prey . </P> <P> The attack is short and powerful; they attempt to catch the victim with a fast rush and final leap . The prey usually is killed by strangulation, which can cause cerebral ischemia or asphyxia (which results in hypoxemic, or "general", hypoxia). The prey also may be killed by the lion enclosing the animal's mouth and nostrils in its jaws (which would also result in asphyxia). Prey is typically eaten at the location of the hunt, although large prey is sometimes dragged into cover . Lions tend to squabble over a kill, particularly the males . When food is scarce, cubs tend to suffer the most but otherwise all pride members can eat their fill, including old and crippled ones which can live on leftovers . There is more sharing of larger kills . An adult lioness requires an average of about 5 kg (11 lb) of meat per day, a male about 7 kg (15 lb). A lion may gorge itself and eat up to 30 kg (66 lb) in one sitting; if it is unable to consume all the kill it will rest for a few hours before consuming more . On a hot day, the pride may retreat to shade leaving a male or two to stand guard . Lions will defend their kills from scavengers like vultures and hyenas . </P>

Who hunts for food male or female lions
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