2 verifications about Lion Lion ×
“Apart from mane traits, lions exhibit no sexual selection.”
Lions display several forms of sexual selection beyond mane characteristics. Research documents male coalition competition for breeding access, female mating strategies and preferences, and infanticide linked to male reproductive advantage. Although some cited links are inaccessible or duplicate the same research, multiple peer-reviewed studies directly refute the claim’s absolute wording.
“Trophy hunting of dominant male lions does not cause population-level infanticide from which lion populations cannot recover.”
Evidence does not show that hunting-induced infanticide necessarily prevents lion populations from recovering. Populations can rebound when hunting pressure is reduced, and carefully enforced age restrictions can limit demographic damage. However, excessive or poorly managed removal of dominant males can increase infanticide, suppress recruitment, cause serious declines, and raise local-extirpation risk.