A study published by the University of Oxford on World Lion Day on Saturday reveals that better-connected female big cats live longer. Analyzing 30 years of data, researchers found that strong female bonds are crucial for protection against threats such as infanticidal males, territory defense, hunting, and cub rearing—all of which require cooperation. This underscores the importance of social connections for the survival of female predators.
The research, titled "Sex-specific social aging in wild African lions," published in Current Biology, is the first to investigate social aging in apex predators in the wild across generations and sexes. The findings emphasise the complex social lives of African lions, highlighting that strong social connections are vital for survival.
Interestingly, the study notes that social connections change with age. Female lions form their strongest bonds in early adulthood, which gradually decline over time. In contrast, male lions have the weakest connections in midlife, which then increase as they age. For males, the number of social connections is more significant than the strength of individual relationships, while for females, the quality of social bonds is more critical.
The study also provides insights into the implications for disease outbreaks. As females age and their social networks shrink, they might be less exposed to pathogens. Conversely, aging males, with their expanding social networks, might face higher exposure risks.
Based on over 150,000 observations of 665 individual lions from the Serengeti Lion Project between 1984 and 2013, this research offers a comprehensive view of how social dynamics affect lion survival. The findings can be applied to other species and contexts, offering a valuable framework for researchers keen to study the behaviors of Asiatic lions found only in the Gir Forest in Gujarat, India. Conservation efforts in this region have seen the lion population grow from around 523 in 2015 to approximately 674 in 2020.
Lead author Lauren Rudd (Department of Biology, University of Oxford) noted, "The importance of close female bonds, particularly in early adulthood, could be because 'friends' can help protect against threats such as infanticidal males. They could also be valuable allies for territory defense, hunting, and cub rearing—all of which require cooperation. Combined, these factors potentially explain why better-connected females live longer."
Co-author Dr Josh Firth (Department of Biology, University of Oxford & University of Leeds) added: 'Natural animal populations, where many individuals are being simultaneously monitored in detail across their entire lives and across many generations, offer unique opportunities to better understand social ageing and how this process operates across many different types of societies.'
Overall, this study enriches our understanding of lion behavior and provides important insights for future research on social dynamics in wildlife populations.
World Lion Day was established to raise global awareness about the rapidly declining lion population and the urgent need for conservation efforts. While lions are admired for their strength and majesty, they face serious threats such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.
Lions, as apex predators, are essential for maintaining ecological balance. By regulating herbivore populations, they support the health and regeneration of forests and grasslands, which is crucial for biodiversity, according to wildlife experts.
