Cloth: 978-0-226-73639-6 | Paper: 978-0-226-73640-2 | Electronic: 978-0-226-73660-0
DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226736600.001.0001
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Based on three years of study in the Serengeti National Park, George B. Schaller’s The Serengeti Lion describes the vast impact of the lion and other predators on the vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle for which the area is famous. The most comprehensive book available on the lion, this classic work includes the author’s findings on all aspects of lion behavior, including its social system, population dynamics, hunting behavior, and predation patterns.
“If you have only enough time to read one book about field biology, this is the one I recommend.”—Edward O. Wilson, Science
“This book conveys not only the fascination of its particular study of lion behavior but the drama and wonder and beauty of the intimate interdependence of all living things.”—Saturday Review
“This is an important book, not just for its valuable information on lions, but for its broad, open, and intelligent approach to problems that cut across the fields of behavior, populations, ecology, wildlife management, evolution, anthropology, and comparative biology.”—Richard G. Van Gelder, Bioscience
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
George B. Schaller is a senior conservationist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and Vice President of Panthera, a foundation devoted to the conservation of wild cats. He is the author of many books, including The Mountain Gorilla and The Last Panda, both published by the University of Chicago Press.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
I. THE STUDY
1. Introduction
Physiography
Vegetation
Seasons
General
Tagging
Food Habits
Age Classes
II. THE LION
The Pride
The Pride Area
The Nomad
Plates 1 to 43 follow p. 82
Communication
The Daily Activity Pattern
Group Organization
Mating Behavior
Relations of Young to Pride
Play
Population Size
Population Composition
Reproduction
Mortality
Population Trend
The Prey Population
Food Habits
Predation in Relation to Sex, Age, and Health of Prey
Behavior of Prey
Main Environmental Factors Affecting the Hunt
Hunting Behavior
Hunting Success
Hunting Large Prey
Relation of Prey Size to Sex of Lion Killing It
Killing
Behavior at the Kill
III. OTHER PREDATORS
Distribution and Numbers
Movements
Population Dynamics
Social Structure
Predation
10. The Cheetah
Distribution and Numbers
Movements
Population Dynamics
Social Structure
Predation
Distribution and Numbers
Movements
Population Dynamics
Social Structure
Predation
Spotted Hyena
Man
Jackals
Reptiles and Birds
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Social System
Social Structure
Communication
Land Tenure System
Population Dynamics
Hominid Behavior
14. The Dynamics of Predation
Ecological Separation of Predators
Antipredator Behavior
Sex, Age, and Health of Prey Killed by Predators
The Impact of Predation on Prey Populations
Conclusion
Appendixes
Appendix A. Common and scientific names of wild mammals, birds, and reptiles mentioned in the text
Appendix B. Tables 1 to 79
Appendix C. An estimate of animal numbers and biomass in the Serengeti Park made by Hendrichs (1970)
References Cited
Index