Female Leaders In the Animal Kingdom:

  Researchers are charting the pathways and barriers to female power among mammals, including our own species.

Bullies, Warriors and Wise Matriarchs.

 A STORY AT-A-GLANCE.

A matriarchal society is one in which a female leads the family, colony, or tribe In the animal kingdom, there are many species in which the females rule the roost. Examples of matriarchal animal communities include

Honeybees.

Killer whales.

Elephants.

Bonobos.

Spotted Hyenas

Lions.

Verreaux’s sifaka Lemurs

And more This might seem unusual. That the males are protector. Often times the females have unique advantages or skills that make them uniquely suited to protecting their species’ survival.

There’s something amiss with The Lion King.

Aside from talking, singing animals. Disney’s smash hit of stage and screen tells the tale of young male lion Simba’s rise to power. But, in the real circle of life, lionesses lead. Related females band together for life, as the primary hunters and warriors. Transient males join to mate, but contribute little else to a pride’s success.