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SUMMARY
Observations are recorded from more than 300 24-hour activity periods of individual lions or prides on a continuous basis of 40 years in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Mean number of lions in a pride was 4.7 varying from 3.9 in the dunes to 5.5. in the riverbeds. In times of drought prides break up into smaller units. The mean distance covered by prides in summer was 11.9 km cf. 13.1 km in winter. Hunting circuits were irregular and unpredictable hut directional movement was anti-clockwise. Small mammals and young of antelope make up 64.5% of the diet. Females may breed up to the age of 19 years and males for 10 years with a lifespan of 16 years. Cub mortality is very high, only 5% surviving more than 12 months.