Behavior Guide: territoriality

Prides of lions are highly territorial and often occupy the same area for many years. Territory size depends on features such as prey availability, permanent water sources and suitable places for hiding young cubs. Females actively defend their territories against other females, while resident males protect prides from rival males.

Territory defense consists of roaring, scent marking and patrolling territory borders. Roaring in groups advises neighbors and strangers of group size, and only resident lions roar. Males do most of the marking and patrolling and this often takes them away from pride females. Males sometimes become resident with more than one pride at once, and will patrol and defend the territories of all prides with which they are resident. Sharing males may affect pride ranging behavior and often brings neighboring prides closer together. However, even when sharing males, pride females maintain territory boundaries and defend their territories against their neighbors.