When a male lion takes over a pride the infanticide observed is presumably designed to:

a. increase his genetic "survival"

b. make the females more compliant

c. satisfy his ego

d. all of the above?

The answer is A.

Also believed to be an evolutionary custom, the male that takes over the pride usually kills all the cubs in the pride. This guarantees him as the only sire of cubs in the pride hence perpetuating his genetic footprints in future generations.