The African Lion

African Lion Facts
Common name - African Lion
Scientific name - Panthera leo
Where found – Extinct in North Africa – now live in Africa south of the Sahara

Size:
Length Male: 2.6 – 3.3m excluding tail
Female: 2.4 – 2.7m excluding tail
Tail: 60 – 100cm

Weight: Male: 150 – 250kg
Female: 110 – 180kg

Lifespan:
In the wild up to 15 years, in captivity around 20 years.

Breeding:
Lions reach sexual maturity at two years and mate all year round. The average litter is between 2-5 cubs.

Life: They are social animals and unlike other many other cats they live in family groups called prides. They cooperate in the hunt together, though this is mostly done by the females. They can see quite well in the dark and do most of their hunting at night.

Males can be distinguished from the female by their mane of hair. They leave their pride around the age of two either alone or with a brother and eventually take over their own pride. This is a very dangerous activity and can sometimes result in the loss of life.

Food:
They are carnivores and eat many animals from Giraffe, buffalo, Zebra, Impala, deer and others to carrion. They can run at up to 50mph, though try not to do this as they need to conserve energy between kills.

Habitat:
A wide area from the grasslands of East Africa to the sands of the Kalahari.
Their numbers are rapidly decreasing due to poaching/hunting and loss of hunting grounds, thought they are not yet officially endangered.
Next time… lions outside Africa.