Lions are iconic top predators that feature intensely in research and conservation projects. However, majority of such research has focused on lions in prey-rich savanna habitats. The typical model lion thus belongs to only a few charismatic populations, thereby confining our understanding of the behaviour of a widely distributed species. In this seminar, by summarizing my long-term behavioural research on Asiatic lions (a non-model population) and comparisons with East African savanna systems, I will delve into the ecological and evolutionary causes and consequences of sociality in lions. I will also briefly outline potential new collaboration/s with the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour at the University of Konstanz. I will end with an ECR perspective of working with a species that continues to awe us while also severely challenging our lives and livelihoods.
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