Interesting facts the male lion is the only cat to have a mane, thus giving it a regal appearance and earning it the title king of the beasts lions are the only cats to live in groups, have a tuft at the end of their tail and have a mane. Lions can reach speeds of up to 81 kph 50 mph but only in short bursts because of a lack of stamina. Although lions are not the largest, nor the most powerful of all animals, male lions are often referred to as the king of the jungle due to their regal posture. Big cats roar thanks to a specially designed larynx a part of the throat. African lions fact file fact file a blog about facts. They often work together to prey upon antelopes, zebras, wildbeest, and other large animals of the open grasslands. They live in groups, called prides, of around 30 lions. African lions sleep or doze, rather about 20 hours a day. The ultimate apex predator and an awesomely beautiful creature, the adult male lion has a flamboyant ruff of remarkably long hair around the head and. They scavenge animals either dead from natural causes disease or killed by other predators, and keep a constant lookout for circling vultures, being keenly aware that they indicate an animal dead or in distress. African lion, facts and photos national geographic. Lion facts, photos, videos, sounds and news big cat rescue. Until 10,000 years ago the lion was the most populous animal on the planet after humans, but today is considered an endangered species with numbers as low as 21,000 in africa.
Information about their physical characteristics, hunting methods, life cycle, how they interact together and their roles within the pride. The lion is the second largest cat after the tiger, with males weighing up to 250kg and females up to 180kg. Is it a fact that african lions are very sociable cats. The lion is a magnificent animal that appears as a symbol of power, courage and nobility on family crests, coats of arms and national flags in many civilizations. They are also seen in heraldry and as the mascots of sports teams. This lesson will teach you some cool facts about this kind of big cat, where it lives and what it. The classic lion pride consists of 2 to 12 closely related females and their cubs. Shumba shona, simba swahili, tau tswana, mbube zulu height.
Lions prefer to scavenge when the opportunity presents itself, and scavenged food provides more than 50% of their diets. Cookies are small files that we send to your computer or mobile phone to make your time on. Mar 15, 2015 the lions habitat does not include the jungle, and therefore, the correct phrase would refer to the lion as the king of beasts. A pride of five lion were introduced to makalali in december 1994 and since then 35 cubs have been born 11. But its also beautiful if you check out the male lion. Adult male lions have the wellknown mane only in adulthood, after several years of growth and strengthgaining. Young secondyear males have a very scraggly appearance. Lions have tawny coats and tufts at the ends of their tails.
Lions used to occur throughout south africa but due to their merciless persecution in south africa due to conflict with humans and their interests, they are now mainly restricted to protected areas. Since the early 1950s, the lion population in africa has been reduced by half. A summary of most interesting statistics size, gestation. Here are some interesting facts about african lions, and why they are still such a majestic lot, even today. Interesting facts and statistics and detail about where lions can be found in africa with external links to. Although extremely large prides, consisting of up to 30 individuals, have been observed, the average pride consists of five or six females, their cubs of both. African males lions play a critical role in protecting cubs from intruding males. Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. African lions, lion habitat, lion cubs wildlife detective. Founded in 1917, we are best known for saving sight, but we also feed the hungry, aid seniors and the disabled, care for the environment and so much more.
Males are distinguishable by their manes which protect them while. Male lions within a pride do not compete for matings. African lions mostly found on savannah but can also be found in varied habitats including woodland and desert, lions are the only member of the cat family to be described as truly social. The big cats are the tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar the only 4 members of the genus panthera.
Lions usually live in groups of 10 or 15 animals called prides. Living in the grasslands, scrub, and open woodlands of subsaharan africa, the lion is the second largest cat in the world. Lions live in the grassy plains, savannas, open woodlands and scrub country. Lion populations at times contract tuberculosis and other diseases in certain parts of the kruger.
These big cats still fill an important ecological role as a dominant predator. With the help of over 7,000 of the worlds best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, featured multimedia fact files for more than 16,000 endangered species. African lions are a kind of big cat that lives in the wild. African lion facts little known facts about their hunting. The numbers of african lions are sadly on a rapid decline.
A classic lion pride may consist of one to three male lions, but only one lion will lead a pride. Photograph by joel sartore, national geographic photo ark. Lions can consume up to 40 pounds of meat in a single meal. They only occur naturally in the northern and eastern parts of south africa. African lions are revered the world over, but their population has shrunk in half over the past 25 years. The lion is the most studied of all the worlds cats. They are 8 to 10 feet long, not including the tail. The lion diet will occasionally include larger species like. Characteristics mostly found on savannah but can also be found in varied habitats including woodland and desert.
Learn all about these supposed scavengers, with facts about the hyenas habitat, range, characteristics, behaviour and diet. A male african lion lying down and looking at the viewer african lion mother and cub panthera leo south africapanthera leo south africa. African lion populations drop 42 percent in past 21 years. Typically lions live in groups of 1216 individuals, called prides. With a typical headtobody length of 184208 cm 7282 in they are.
Check facts about african lions if you want to know the wild, dangerous and strong animal. Description, facts and pictures most cat species live a fundamentally solitary existence, travel and tours southern africa. If a human is attacked by a mountain lion, call 911. On average, the lion is the tallest of the big cats, but the siberian tiger tends to be considerably longer and heavier. African lion about the african lion african lion facts. For the lioness it provides a level of assurance in that the more persistent the male lion is, the greater likelihood that the male will stick around until the cubs are grown. The average male lion weighs around 180 kg 400 lb while the average female lion weighs around kg 290 lb. Of the known subspecies of lion there seems to be an agreement on 2 as far as genetics go pantherinae panthera leo leo the african lion, and pantherinae panthera leo persica the asian. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and.
Lions are extremely powerful cats with enormous forelimbs that can break a cows neck. Specifically, the lion satisfies annex 1, criterion c i, because a decline in the number of individuals in the wildhas been observed as ongoing or as having occurred. In fact, lions are the only cats that live in groups. The trunk of the african elephant has two fingerlike structures at its tip that allow the animal to perform both delicate and powerful movements. The heaviest lion on record weighed an amazing 375 kg 826 lb.
The lion is found throughout the south sahara desert and in parts of southern and eastern africa. The uniquely social king of the jungle live science. Panthera leo persica asian lion approximately 350 lions in gir forest, western india they are listed as critically endangered age height weight male african lions live between 12 years, females for between 1416 years. Portrait of african lion african white lion portrait. African lion mother and cub close up male african lion on the prowl. An adult males roar can be heard up to 8 kilometers 5 miles away. Renowned for their majesty and nicknamed the king of the jungle, lions possess both beauty and strength. The david shepherd wildlife foundation supports lion projects in uganda investigating and protecting lion populations in two of ugandas key wildlife areas. The african elephant is the largest land mammal on earth and perhaps one of the most intelligent. When african lions hunt alone they are successful in one out of six attempts.
With majestic manes and powerful roars, hundreds of thousands of lions once ruled the plains of africa. These are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. Populations of african lions panthera leo leo have declined by 42 percent over the past 21 years, according to. You can see our family of lions in the pride of pembrokeshire enclosure. Search from 60 top african lion pictures and royaltyfree images from istock. Recent history of lion killing in amboseli tsavo ecosystem, 20002006. The african lion is the second largest cat, with males weighing up to 550 pounds and females weighing between 260 and 400 pounds. Living in the grasslands, scrub, and open woodlands of subsaharan africa, the lion is the second largest cat in the world behind tigers african lions are the most social of all big cats and live together in groups or prides. Although the population of lions is declining, they are not currently listed as endangered or threatened. African lion stock photos download 36,119 royalty free. The killing of 87 lions between 1998 and 2004 in and near nairobi national park was well documented and reported in the international press. But the species has disappeared from 94 percent of its historic range and can only be found today in parts of subsaharan africa. African lion fact sheet may 2016 photos courtesy of bob johnson for more information see. Some famous lions include simba from the lion king, the metrogoldwynmayer mascot, the cowardly lion and elsa from the movie born free.
Aug 14, 2015 15 lion facts panthero leo is one of 4 big cats the others being tigers, jaguars and leopards. These vulnerable species face constant threat due to loss of habitat and poaching. The name for a baby lion is a cub, whelp or lionet. Learn everything you wanted to know about african lions with pictures, facts and news from our youtube channel.
Unlike other big cats the lion does not have a patterned coat. In the north they occur naturally in mainly the kruger national park. Lions reach sexual maturity at 2 years old and mate at all times of the year. African lions once roamed most of africa and parts of asia and europe. The african lion panthera leo still roams portions of his native environment, but only a fraction of the original population remains. Fun facts about lions african lion information for kids. Lions clubs international is the largest service club. The african lion is a massive, tawny colored predator of the cat family. African lions dswf saving endangered animals in the wild. Find highquality stock photos that you wont find anywhere else. Lions may also sometimes dig warthogs out of their shallow burrows. If you have a facetoface encounter with a mountain lion, contact a ranger or call the midpen office at 6506911200 during regular business hours. Adult males outsize females by a small but significant amount.
What are the african lion facts when it comes to their hunting success rates. In the wild the lifespan of lions is approximately 15 years, however in captivity it can be as long as 30 years. Full body shot of a male african lion on the prowl african lion. Interesting facts about the king of the beasts, the majestic african lion. The coloration is yellowbuff with the males having a mane, which darkens with age. African lion facts zoological society of london zsl. One of these following facts about african lions might give you much information about the animal. Despite being smaller overall than a tiger, the lion is in fact taller at the shoulder, by about 14cm. African lions declines in its african range of 3050% per two decades during the second half of the 20th century. Historically lions occurred in subsaharan africa as well as from northern africa into southwest asia and europe.
Were men and women serving in more than 200 countries and geographic areas. Lions at one time were found from greece through the middle east to northern india, but today only a very small population remains in india. Lions once roamed africa, asia and europe, but are now only found in parts of africa and india. Lion populations are untenable outside designated reserves and national parks. Interesting lion facts lions are very social compared to other cat species and live in prides of up to 15 males, lionesses and cubs. The lion panthera leo is the largest wild cat in africa, yet populations of the king of the jungle have dramatically declined by nearly half in just two decades.
The lion panthera leo is a species in the family felidae. It is dwarfed slightly by the tiger, which is closely related and has a very similar body type. Females are about 40 to 50 kg lighter than males, which can have a mass of 180 up to 225 kg. The african lion meets the criteria for listing in appendix i established in resolution conf. However only a remnant population remains in india and the present day populations only occur in sub. Oct 31, 2016 learn everything you wanted to know about african lions with pictures, facts and news from our youtube channel. Lion usually kills by a strangling throat hold or by clamping its mouth over the muzzle of the prey.
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