Lion Facts

 

“Don’t argue with her, don’t feel sorry for her – She watches over the whole Valley and her word is law” Audrey Tourney

Characteristics:

• Second largest cat in the world.
• A mature male lion stands 4’ at the shoulder and in length up to 8.5’ plus the tail. Males average 450 lbs. The female (lioness) is smaller weighing 300 lbs.
• The lion cannot see the colour red.
• All lions have black facial lines and markings that are unique to each lion making it their identity to other lions.
• The lioness is the provider of food to the pride. She is the hunter.
• A family or group of lions is called a pride. As many as 15 lions can be in the pride. Typically consisting of 2 males, several females (sisters and cousins) and a variable number of cubs
• The roar of a lion can be heard up to 5 miles away.
• The mane of the male lion protects his throat from enemies during territorial fights.
• A lion is a toe walker. The heel doesn’t touch the ground.
• The African lion has now been listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN (World Conservation Union)

Reproduction:

• 3 to 4 cubs are born in a litter. The odds of a lion cub making it to the age of 2 are small due to the male lion and predators. Only 1 in 5 will survive the first year. The life span of a lion is approximately 15 years in the wild. In captivity it can be 25 to 30 years.

Food:

• Their diet consists of Zebra, buffalo, African deer species, warthog’s and even giraffe. Their favourite is the wildebeest or gnu. Lions will also steal kills from other predators and carrion is also apart of their diet.

Range:

• Lions once inhabited southern Europe and Asia, Central India and the whole continent of Africa. But today only a protected 300 still live in a National Park in India and all lions have been wiped out of Northern Africa.