Question

Ok what sounds better?

1. When the herd does notice that a pride of lions are preying on their young the hippos will often form a defense circle with their young in the middle and with the toughest hippos on the outside in order to protect their young.

2.When the herd does notice that a pride of lions is preying on their young the hippos will often form a defense circle with their young in the middle and with the toughest hippos on the outside in order to protect their young.

Answer 1

eliminate anything you think is silly so are preying on or is preying on. the answer is 1. the lions are preying on.

Answer 2

The second sentence is grammatically correct. The verb is not talking about lions, it is talking about a singular pride.