Lion Speed
Lion Speed - How Fast is the Lion?
Truthfully, not many animals are capable of outrunning the lion. Speed is not always the determining factor during the hunt, and the quick strategy of a frightened victim can mean all the difference between a nourishing meal and a waste of valuable energy. The cheetah is capable of reaching speeds upwards of 70 miles per hour, which is quite a bit faster than the 50 miles per hour you can expect from the lion. Speed is sometimes not as important as are agility and grace, however. Without all three aspects readily present and executed perfectly, the lion could be left panted and exhausted, while the young wildebeest rejoins his mother a safe distance away.
The lioness hunts in teams of two or more, and have proven to strategize the kill plan based on what type of prey they are after. For the lion, speed comes as the second talent which will be called upon, as first she will stalk slowly, low and quiet, with her teammates doing the same from their positions. She will continue to stalk until one of two things occur; either her prey has sensed her and begins to flee, or she feels that she has reached a proximity which will allow her to take down her target with minimal effort. Once this decision is made by the lion, speed needs to be employed with quickness and precision, as there is only once chance to get it right.
Agility will be her next task, if she has been successful enough to reach this phase of the hunt. As her pray springs into action, she will need to turn that enormous body on a dime, leaping, twisting, and turning to stay step on step with her perspective meal. At this point, her fellow hunters have sprung into action as well, though there is usually only one appointed take down artist with smaller game, The others will guard the premises on the ready, in case their target should run free or escape.
Bear in mind that this event is likened very much to the chase that the house cat gives to the mouse, with one major difference. Should your house cat lose that slippery little morsel beneath the cupboard or under the door, he can shrug it off, walk over to his food dish, and try again after a nice meal and a well deserved nap in your recliner. For the lion, speed, stealth, and agility are the only means of rendering a meal. Should too many hunts go unsuccessful, the entire pride begins to suffer famine and dehydration, especially the lionesses that have burned so much precious fuel with no reward.