<P> Young lions first display stalking behaviour at around three months of age , although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost a year old and begin to hunt effectively when nearing the age of two . Single lions are capable of bringing down prey twice their size , such as zebra and wildebeest , while hunting larger prey like giraffes and buffalo alone is too risky . Cooperatively hunting lions are usually successful . In prides , lionesses do most of the hunting . In typical hunts , each lioness has a favoured position in the group , either stalking prey on the `` wing '' then attacking or moving a smaller distance in the centre of the group and capturing prey fleeing from other lionesses . Males attached to prides do not usually participate in group hunting . Some evidence suggests , however , that pride males are just as successful as females ; they are solo hunters who ambush prey in small bushland . Lions are not particularly known for their stamina -- for instance , a lioness ' heart comprises only 0.57 % of her body weight and a male 's is about 0.45 % of his body weight , whereas a hyena 's heart comprises almost 1 % of its body weight . Thus , lions only run quickly in short bursts and need to be close to their prey before starting the attack . They take advantage of factors that reduce visibility ; many kills take place near some form of cover or at night . Because lions are ambush hunters , human farmers have recently found that lions are easily discouraged if they think their prey has seen them . To protect their cattle from such attacks with that knowledge in mind , farmers have found it effective to paint eyes on the hindquarters of each cow , which is usually enough to make hunting lions think they have been seen and select easier prey . </P>
<P> Young lions first display stalking behaviour at around three months of age , although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost a year old and begin to hunt effectively when nearing the age of two . Single lions are capable of bringing down prey twice their size , such as zebra and wildebeest , while hunting larger prey like giraffes and buffalo alone is too risky . Cooperatively hunting lions are usually successful . In prides , lionesses do most of the hunting . In typical hunts , each lioness has a favoured position in the group , either stalking prey on the `` wing '' then attacking or moving a smaller distance in the centre of the group and capturing prey fleeing from other lionesses . Males attached to prides do not usually participate in group hunting . Some evidence suggests , however , that pride males are just as successful as females ; they are solo hunters who ambush prey in small bushland . Lions are not particularly known for their stamina -- for instance , a lioness ' heart comprises only 0.57 % of her body weight and a male 's is about 0.45 % of his body weight , whereas a hyena 's heart comprises almost 1 % of its body weight . Thus , lions only run quickly in short bursts and need to be close to their prey before starting the attack . They take advantage of factors that reduce visibility ; many kills take place near some form of cover or at night . Because lions are ambush hunters , human farmers have recently found that lions are easily discouraged if they think their prey has seen them . To protect their cattle from such attacks with that knowledge in mind , farmers have found it effective to paint eyes on the hindquarters of each cow , which is usually enough to make hunting lions think they have been seen and select easier prey . </P>
who hunts most -- male or female lions
who hunts most -- male or female lions
lionesses
lionesses