| AFRICAN LIONS Lions are the most social of the
large cats. They live in large family groups called
"prides." Each pride contains one or more
mature males and a number of females with their cubs. The
females, or lionesses, are the hunters while the males
defend the group and their territory.
Where do lions live?
African lions
live in the grassy plains and savannas of sub-Saharan
Africa. They have a broad habitat tolerance and can
survive in very hot climates.
How many lions are
left?
Lions are
threatened animals. Currently, it is believed that there
are less than 20,000 left on protected game reserves.At
one time, there were millions of lions throughout Africa.
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The blue area is
the
range of African lions
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How big
are they?
Length: Adult Males nose to tail
approximately 9 feet.The female is smaller.
Weight: Males from 350-550 pounds and
femalessmaller at 250-300 pounds.
Lions are considered one of the "big cats" like
tigers, leopards and jaguars. Male lions can grow to be
three feet tall at the shoulders and weigh as much as 400
pounds. These cats have golden-brown coats which blend
into the surroundings and help them get close to their
prey without being seen.
Why do
lion cubs have spots?
Lion cubs are born
with dark spots that will begin to fade at about three
months. Many people believe that the spots make it harder
for predators to see the infants when they are hidden.
Cubs are born after
a gestation period of 110 days, with female lions giving
birth in a den site, typically located in a rock outcrop
or in dense vegetation. A female will on average give
birth to three cubs that are between 2 to 4 pounds in
weight. The cubs’ eyes open between three to eleven
days of age, and begin walking at 10 to 15 days. When the
cubs are between four to six weeks old, the mother brings
them out to the rest of the pride. Births within the
pride are often simultaneous; so most cubs often end up
being reared with other cubs in a “crèche”.
Cubs are nursed until they are 6 to 8 months old,
however, they continue to be dependant on their mother
until at least 16 months of age.
Hunting
Hunting is a very
important part of a lion's life. They need to eat meat
and drink water to survive in the hot weather.
How do lions catch
their prey?
Lions often work
together when they hunt. This co-operation increases
their chances of getting food. Most of the hunting is
done by a group of lionesses which divides into two
teams. One team circles around to get ahead of the prey.
When they're in place, the second group shows itself and
scares the animals. The frightened victims stampede and
are chased into the first group of lions.Most of the
hunting is done at night, so lions have excellent hearing
and eyesight. Their hearing is so good, they can hear
prey that is more than a mile away. Lions' eyes are the
biggest of any meat-eating animal. Like the eyes of other
cats, they are specially designed for seeing at night.
What do they eat?
In the wild,
African lions prey upon large herd animals such as
wildebeests and zebras. If they can't find enough of
their regular food, lions will eat smaller animals like
hares and tortoises. However if prey is really scarce,
these cats will eat almost anything that they can find -
including snakes, insects and fruit.
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This male lion looks as if he is about
to hunt.
Normally female lions hunt but this lion could
be on his own(no mate). Or ...he could have his
eye on a female.
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Jokes
What does the lion say
to his friends before they go out hunting for food?
by Naomi, year 6
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