If you’ve ever read a lion book, such as Rachel Bright’s The Lion Inside, you may have noticed that the lion seems to live alone. However, in real life most lions live in groups - in fact, they’re the only big cats who do. Called prides, these groups are not made up entirely of biological families; indeed while many of the lionesses are mothers, daughters and sisters, males often get banished from the pride once they grow old enough to pose a threat to the leader. But what does a day in the life of a lion pride look like?

Daytime in a lion pride

Daytime is the least active period for a pride of lions. The hottest hours are spent resting. In fact, lions can spend up to 21 out of 24 hours resting and sleeping. If a mother has recently given birth, she stays with her cubs at a distance from the pride. Cubs are introduced at around eight weeks old, when they will often play during the cooler hours of the day. They imitate the behaviour of the adults in the group, stalking, pouncing and fighting with each other.

When dusk falls, you might hear the pride roaring. They do this to communicate with distant members of the pride, as well as to demonstrate the location and strength of the group. Lions are able to distinguish the roars of their companions from those of strangers, and can even tell how many lions are in another group from sound alone.

Nighttime in a lion pride

Night is when the lion story gets more interesting. The pride disperses, with the females going off to hunt, and the male(s) patrolling the territory to protect its boundaries from other males who may be looking to take over the pride. A group’s territory may span up to 10 square kilometres, and there are often ‘nomad’ lions nearby, hoping to defeat the lead male and become the alpha of the pride.

The lionesses work together to hunt, with the smaller, lighter females chasing the prey towards the centre of the group. The larger lionesses then ambush or capture the prey. However, lions are not always successful hunters and may only make a kill every few days. This is one reason why lions rest and sleep a lot - it helps them to conserve energy and ensure they don’t get too hungry.

Nomadic lions

Perhaps the lone lions in children’s story books are nomadic lions. These are typically males who have been cast out of the pride and must either seek to take over another pride or create one of their own. Sometimes nomads will form small groups to boost their chances of survival.

If you’re looking for a brave lion book that explores the themes of courage and perseverance, The Lion Inside is a great choice. There’s even a live stage adaptation touring the UK this summer, making the story even more accessible. Aimed at children aged three and up, it features stunning puppetry, sing-along songs and plenty of interactive moments. Book your tickets today.