When a lion pride is taken over by new males, the fate of the females and their cubs follows a distinct pattern rooted in lion social behavior:
- The new incoming males typically kill the existing cubs fathered by the previous dominant males. This act of infanticide eliminates potential rivals and causes the females to enter estrus sooner, allowing the new males to sire their own offspring within the pride
- The females themselves usually remain with the pride. Lion prides are matriarchal in the sense that the stable core of the pride consists of related females (mothers, daughters, sisters) who stay in the natal territory for life or for extended periods
. The females cooperate in hunting, raising cubs, and defending the territory.
- Although the new males take over mating rights and territory defense, the females maintain their social bonds and roles. They collectively care for the cubs and hunt to provide food for the pride
- Occasionally, if food is scarce or the pride becomes too large, some females (typically sub-adult daughters) may disperse to establish new territories nearby, but this is independent of male takeover events
In summary, when new males take over a pride, they usually kill the existing cubs to propagate their genes, but the females generally remain in the pride, continuing their roles as hunters and caregivers within the matriarchal core of the group
