Prides: The Lions of Moremi

The Okavango lion research project is a broad-based study in which the problems of genetics, reproduction and disease are as important as ecology and behaviour. Until now, most of the research that has taught us the "facts" we take for granted about lions has been done in the Serengeti. But Africa is not all composed of endless savannah; rather, it is a mosaic of savannahs, trees and shrubs. This diversity of habitats is probably most richly represented in the Okavango Delta region of Botswana, with its permanent swamps, seasonal river courses and dry floodplains, acacia forests and mopane woodlands. Here, a single lion pride territory can include five distinct habitat types, and neighbouring prides can inhabit areas radically different in the availability of water and prey. The lions of the Okavango seem to challenge many of our preconceived notions about these fascinating animals. Clearly the time has come to take a fresh look at Africa's best-known predator.