Lion - African Animals
Lions are unique in that they are the only cats to live in groups (prides).
They are the largest member of the cat family and the largest of all the African
carnivores. They are are the top predator in any African ecosystem where they
live.
Description and Characteristics:
Lions are Tawny in colour, varying from silvery yellow to reddish brown with
paler undersides (female belly yellowish to almost white); yellow to black mane.
Faint, leopard like spots are generally found on the young which is sometimeskept
into maturity.
Males have thick mane around the head that extend down the chest between
the forelegs and varies in colour from blond to black, whereas females do
not have manes
Lions have massive shoulders and strong forelimbs, long, sharp claws, and
short, powerful jaws. A Lions' roar can be heard by humans more than 8 km
away.
Prides of lions are generally composed of related females, whilst a typical
prides contains around 13 lions, large prides can contain as many as 40 lions,
while some prides will have a few as two members. A prides home range varies
in size from 20-400 km².
Lions are mainly nocturnal and are reputed to sleep or rest for about 20
hours a day. You will often find them lying under a shady bush, particularly
after they've fed following a kill.
Feeding/drinking Habits:
As carnivores, feeding entirely on the flesh of other mammals, lions have
30 teeth, including large piercing canines to grab and kill prey, scissorlike
molars to slice into flesh, and small incisors to scrape meat from bones.
Much of their hunting is done at night and in the very early dawn. When feeding
on a large kill, a lion can eat almost 36 kg of meat in one feeding and then
not need to eat for several days. On average, a lion needs to eat about 5
kg of meat daily.
Habitat:
The lion is found throughout the south Sahara desert and in parts of southern
and eastern Africa. They are generally seen on grassy plains, savannas, and
dry woodlands but never seen in heavily forested areas. The lion can be found
in most of the National Parks and Reserves in Africa.
Size & Lifespan
Males reach up to a shoulder height of 1.2meters and weight between 150-250kgs,
females are smaller and reach a shoulder height of 1.05m and weigh up between
120 -180 kgs. Lions live for 12-16 years in the wild and 25 years in captivity.
Reproduction:
A lioness has a gestation period of about 110 days, after which she can gives
birth to up to four cubs. Generally she gives birth in a secluded areas away
from the group and introduces the cubs to the pride when they are about eight
weeks old. Very often, several females give birth at about the same time,
and they share the duties of protecting and nursing the cubs. Mothers nurse
for up to 8 months, although they begin to take cubs to eat at animal kills
when they are as young as 3 months old. At about 11 months of age, cubs start
learning to hunt with the pride. Females take care of their young until they
are about two, when the mother is ready to produce a new litter.
Predators and Threats:
Although the population of lions is declining, they are not currently listed
as endangered or threatened. Threats include hunting, loss of habitat and
human encroachment.
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