Lion
Hi! I’m a Lion
The lion is the second largest feline species, after the tiger. Lions are the only truly social cats. Prides are made up of related females and 1 to 2 males and numbers can range from 2 to 40 lions. Members of the pride come and go and are rarely all together at once.
Young males band together to form ‘bachelor’ prides. The male lion, easily recognised by his mane, is not always part of hunting parties. This is not because they do not want to or cannot hunt, their size and strength is better served protecting their home territory and young.
The National Zoo and Aquarium is home to two tawny coloured lions: Nairibi and Mlinzi.
Facts
Taxonomy
Panthera leo
Population Movement
Decreasing
Current Animals
Mlinzi, Nairibi
Life Span (captive)
20 years
Weight
120-225kg
Reproduction
It is estimated that lions copulate 3,000 times for every cub that survives over a year.
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Group Count
2
Life Span (wild)
About 15 years
Size
1.6-2m, with a 70-90cm tail
Gestation
110 days
Distribution
Lions are found in most countries in sub-Saharan African and a small isolated population of Asiatic lions remain in the Gir Forest in Western India (estimated to be about 523 in 2015)
Lion habitat can be found in savannahs, plains, grasslands, dense bush and woodlands. There are records of lions at elevations of more than 4,000 meters in the Bale Mountains and on Kilimanjaro.
Lions once ranged from Asia through Africa and into Europe. They disappeared from Europe 2,000 years ago.