Do males often fight over females or in territorial disputes?

High intensity fights are not as common as one would imagine. Males do not dispute the possession of a female. Many of the encounters that do take place consist of a few slaps accompanied by much vocalisation and baring of teeth. Determined biting and fights in which one of the combatants is killed are very rare.

Lions also have great recuperative powers and even large wounds tend to heal well. Each lion in a group or in a pride usually knows and responds to the fighting potential of every other member. Even when a stranger is drive out of the prides area, the pursuer usually maintains a certain distance and adjusts his peed to that of the intruder.