The Lion - by Craig Packer (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Lions lead intricate lives. They hunt together, raise cubs together, and defend territories together. But though life at the top of the food chain may mean that lions have little to fear from other species - they can easily dominate every other carnivore in their midst - they still must constantly safeguard against the threat posed by other lions. Each day is dominated by the demands of raising a family while protecting themselves against enemies endowed with the same strengths and skills. Biologist Craig Packer has spent his career studying the African lion, one of the most fascinating animals on earth. In this book, he synthesizes his decades of research in the Serengeti into an up-to-date portrait of the African lion, and reveals how he and his colleagues have come to understand this creature's behavior, ecology, and conservation. Packer opens the book by providing readers with background on lions' territory, daily behavior, lifespan, and physiology. From there he delves more deeply into lion society, illustrating the complexity of lion life from cub rearing and foraging to competition with other lions. In the final chapters, Packer zooms out to summarize what is known about lion ecological abundance and distribution as well as their conservation status. Not surprisingly, lions are increasingly threatened; however, Packer ends his book on a hopeful note, pointing to programs that are successfully protecting lion populations"--

Book Synopsis

An authoritative, accessible, and gorgeously illustrated exploration into the lives of these remarkable animals

Lions are the only social cat. They hunt together, raise cubs together, and defend territories together against neighbors and strangers. Lions also rest atop their ecological pyramid, with profound impacts on competitors and prey alike, but their future is far from assured. Craig Packer interweaves his discoveries from more than forty years of research--including a substantial body of new findings--to provide an unforgettable portrait of the African lion. He shares insights into the intricacies of lion life from birth until death and describes efforts to conserve lions in an increasingly crowded continent. With a wealth of breathtaking photographs by Daniel Rosengren, The Lion sheds light on a host of intriguing scientific questions, such as why males have manes, why lions are social, how sociality limits and stabilizes lion populations, how close inbreeding affects lion health, why lions become man-eaters, how lions and people can best be protected from each other, and how to ensure the lion's survival into the next century.

• Engagingly written by the world's foremost expert on African lions
• Integrates a wealth of findings from two of the most comprehensive field studies on any animal
• Features hundreds of stunning photographs that capture a broad range of lion behaviors, ecological interactions, and conservation challenges
• Blends vivid field anecdotes and graphics to give the reader a sense of adventuring into the lion's world

Review Quotes

"[Packer] demonstrates the incredible insights that a brilliant mind can reach based on half a century of multidisciplinary research. . . . I expect it will remain a must-read work for any scholar interested in carnivore ecology and conservation, for decades to come."---Miha Krofel, BioScience

"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"

"For anyone concerned with the fate of the lion, indeed with the future of African wildlife in all its richness and diversity, this is an important book."---David M. Gascoigne, Travels With Birds

About the Author

Craig Packer is Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is the award-winning author of Into Africa and Lions in the Balance: Man-Eaters, Manes, and Men with Guns.