Animal Queendoms: 5 African Animal Societies Where Females are in Charge
Many animal species live in matriarchal societies, in which females hold the primary power position within the herd or pack. In these societies, females do most of the hunting, dictate the social structure, and raise the young. Read our top five favorite 'queens of the jungle' animal communities.
1) Elephants
Female elephants and their young live in close family groups led by the matriarch, who is often the oldest and largest of the family. Elephant matriarchs act as a source of information about where to find food and water, and their presence is particularly important during times of famine or drought. Like a monarchy, elephants honor succession, and on the death of the matriarch, the eldest daughter typically takes her place as leader.
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2) Spotted Hyena
Hyenas live in clans of up to 80 members, led by an alpha female. Competition for status and resources has evolved the females into being more aggressive and larger than males, and they will often support close relatives in clashes with other families. Daughters will frequently stay with the clan they were born into and inherit their mother's social rank.
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3) Meerkat
The dominant female is the leader of a mob, which is a small group made up of several families of meerkats. As leader, she's responsible for finding new burrows and handling disagreements amongst other mobs of meerkats. However, females aren't always supportive, and the dominant female may monopolize the breeding within the group.
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4) Lion
Prides mostly consist of multiple females that are related, along with their offspring. They are then joined by a small number of unrelated males. The females are the designated hunters and are responsible for providing for the other members of the pride, with the males being the first to eat. Lions are unique in how they live and work together by giving birth at the same time and raising the cubs communally.
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5) Bonobos
Great apes found in the Congo and live in groups under female leadership. While the hierarchy between males and females is balanced, there is usually a group at the very top led by an older female. Female bonobos are much smaller than males, so instead of ruling by physical strength, the female leader tends to earn rank through age, experience, and ability to form strong bonds and alliances with other females in the group.