…but they eavesdrop on other animals’ conversations and then act accordingly.

Lions will listen in on the communication of other species and will approach the sounds of those animals that they consider relatively easy prey.  For more formidable foes, however, they will only approach if there is a good chance that they can actually out-maneuver their potential meal.  For example, all lions in a recent study approached the sounds of wild dogs.  However, when lions heard the sounds of hyenas communicating, males approached the calls, but female lions only approached the area from where they heard the sounds being made if male lions were also present with them.

[Ethology], [photo]