Description, habitat, reproduction, nutrition, behavior, threats, subspecies, videos and photos of lions. Lion (Panthera leo)Eng

Lion (lat. Panthera leo) is an animal of the class mammals, such as chordates, order Carnivora, family cat, genus panther, subfamily Big cats.

The natives who lived side by side with the lion called the predatory lion “wild cat.” Yours modern name, consonant in many languages, the lion received in the 18th century from Latin word leo.

Description of the lion, appearance, characteristics, photographs of the animal.

Of the currently existing wild cats The lion is inferior in size only. An adult male lion weighs on average up to 250 kg with a body length of 2.5 m. The flexible, mobile body of a lion has well-developed muscles of the neck and front legs. The lion's claws reach 7 cm in length.

The massive head of a lion with an elongated muzzle is endowed with strong jaws. The lion has 30 teeth, canines up to 8 cm in size allow him to successfully hunt large animals: roe deer, wild boar, etc. A tongue covered with tubercles helps to quickly get rid of blood-sucking insects and care for the fur.

On the lion's face there are several rows of whiskers with dark spots at the base, forming a pattern unique to each individual. Newborn lion cubs are spotted, like , but at puberty the spots disappear. The color of a lion's fur can be sand, brown or with a red tint. The tail ends in a striking black tassel. Some individuals have a “spur” inside the brush - a fused vertebral ending.

A unique feature of lions is their exceptional sexual dimorphism. Male lions are much larger in size than females and are endowed with a luxurious mane, which appears as early as six-month old lion cubs. By the age of three, the pile on a lion’s mane grows to 35-40 cm. Color, length and fullness depend on genetics, habitat and the amount of testosterone. Old seasoned lions have the thickest and shaggiest manes.

It may seem surprising, but lions are animals that have the smallest heart among large predators. That is why they are not particularly resilient, although when running short distances, lions reach speeds of up to 80 km/h. IN natural conditions lions live 12-15 years; in captivity, life expectancy increases by 5-7 years.

Types and classification of lions.

The classification of lions includes 8 subspecies:

• Asiatic(Persian, Indian) lion(lat. Panthera leo persica): distinguished by a squat body and a sleek, not too thick mane. The weight of a lion is 150-220 kg, for males from 160 to 190 kg, for females from 90 kg to 120 kg. The height of the Asiatic lion at the withers reaches 1.05 meters. The record length of the lion reached 2.92 meters. Just over 500 representatives of this lion species live in the Indian Girsky Nature Reserve. The largest Asiatic lion was recorded to be 2.92 meters long;

Asiatic (Persian, Indian) lion

• Barbary lion (barbary)(lat. Panthera leo leo): the most massive predator with a dark thick mane. Inhabited everywhere African continent. Unfortunately, it was finally exterminated by man at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, descendants of the Barbary lion live in captivity, but there is no need to talk about the purebred of the species. The weight of a male lion reaches 160-270 kg, the weight of a female is 100-170 kg. It was the largest predator of all lion species;

• Senegalese (West African) lion(lat. Panthera leo senegalensis). Males are distinguished by a light, short mane (or lack thereof), light fur and small size. Prides of this predator are smaller, and the shape of the skull is different from other species of lions. The habitat is located south of the Sahara from Senegal in the west and in the east to the Central African Republic. About a thousand representatives live in the savannas of Guinea, Nigeria and Senegal. This lion species is endangered;

Senegalese lion

• northern congo lion(lat. Panthera leo azandica): by external signs similar to other African relatives. Lives in the savannas of northeastern Congo. The population of this lion species is gradually decreasing;

• East African(Masai) lion(lat. Panthera leo nubica) is a subspecies of the African lion. Males are distinguished by elongated limbs and a “combed” back mane. Male lions reach a length of 2.5 - 3 meters, including the tail. The length of lionesses with a tail is 2.3 - 2.6 meters. The weight of a male lion is 150 - 230 kg, females 100 - 165 kg. Lions and lionesses have a withers height of 90 - 115 cm. The habitat of this species of lions is Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique and other states in eastern Africa, and also inhabit the Kenyan Masai Mara reserve;

• southwest african(Katangese) lion(lat. Panthera leo bleyenberghi): distinguished by a light color. It lives in southwestern Africa from Angola to Zimbabwe. The length of a male lion including his tail is 2.5 – 3.1 meters, the length of a lioness is 2.3 – 2.65 meters. The weight of a male lion is 140-240 kg, the weight of females is 105-170 kg. An endangered species of lions, on the verge of extinction;

• southeast african(Transvaal) lion(lat. Panthera leo krugeri): large individuals, males have a long dark mane. Some representatives exhibit leucism, a mutation associated with the absence of melanocytes. These exotics have white fur and pink skin. The body length of the Transvaal lion with a tail is 2.6 - 3.2 meters, the lioness's dimensions are more modest - 2.35 - 2.75 meters. The weight of a male reaches 150-250 kg, females - 110-180 kg. More than 2 thousand lions live in national park Kruger, as well as in the southern part of the African continent and in the Kalahari Desert;

• cape lion(lat. Panthera leo melanochaita). A subspecies that disappeared in the 19th century. The last Cape lion was shot in 1858. These lions lived in the Cape Province on the Cape Good Hope, which is located in southern Africa. This species of lion was distinguished by black-tipped ears, and the lion's mane covered the belly and shoulders of the mammal.

Extinct Cape Lion

Together with the tiger, leopard and jaguar, the lion forms the genus Panthera, members of which can interbreed to form viable hybrids: ligers (tigers), leopons (leopard + lion) and jaguls (jaguar + lion).

White Lion.

White lions are not a subspecies, but a genetic disorder called leucism, which causes the coat to turn white. White individuals live in the Kruger National Park and the Timbavati Reserve, which are located in the east of South Africa. Basically, such animals are kept in captivity.

White Lion

Do black lions exist in nature?

Black lions do not exist; in captivity such a species could survive, but in wildlife this is impossible. A pride of dark brown lions has been seen in Okovango, which scientists say is the result of inbreeding. In general, there is no evidence for the existence of a black lion.

Black Lion

Where and how do lions live?

Lions live on 2 continents: Africa and Asia. The distribution range of lions in Africa is located in the southern part of the Sahara Desert. In Asia, the wild lion lives in India, in the Gir forest of the Indian state of Gujarat.

In fact, during times early Middle Ages The habitat of lions was much wider: animals lived throughout Africa and India, the Middle East, Iran and even in southern Europe and Russia. But habitat destruction by predators and human persecution have led to a reduction in lion habitat.

In nature, lions live in savannas, sometimes in forests or bushes. Predators live in small packs - prides, consisting of 5-6 related females, their cubs and 1-2 mature males (2 males can only be in a pride if they are brothers). Young lions expelled from a pride face a solitary life, with the opportunity to join another pride or create their own.

I always enjoy watching programs about wild animals. Lions are especially admired. It is not for nothing that the lion is the king of beasts. Their habits are truly royal. But it’s better to observe how lions live from afar. I’ll tell you now what I know about the life of lions.

Where does the king of beasts live?

Lions- these are powerful, strong and brave predators. They can be found in the following places:

• savannas;
• forests;

• bushes.

Lion habitat:

• Asia(in India in the state of Gujarat);

• Africa(Sahara Desert);

• zoos Worldwide;

• visiting circuses.

Several centuries ago, lions lived not only in the above places, but also in the Middle East, Iran, Europe and even Russia. Now the lion population has greatly decreased due to uncontrolled hunting of these animals. Therefore, the Asian government took up the revival of the lion family. I hope they succeed, because there are too few lions left on the planet (not only lions, but also other species of animals and birds).

How do lions live?

Lions live prides, in which approximately from 8 to 30 individuals: females, their cubs and 1-2 males. In general, in a pride there can only be one male. If there are two males, then they are blood brothers. Sick and weak lions are expelled from the pack. In the future, a sad fate awaits them - they are alone and, as a rule, do not live long. If a male was driven out of the pride for another reason (for example, he began to show attention to one of the lionesses), then such a lion will seek refuge in another pack, which may well accept him. But friendship in a pride lasts for the time being, namely until mating. Friendship is friendship, as they say, but lions fight for the female to the last blood.

What do lions eat?

Males do not take much part in hunting, despite their agility and physical strength. Lunch is provided by the female breadwinner. Lions prefer food:

• young gazelles;

• fast wildebeest;

• deer;

• sometimes they can hunt giraffes, hippos and even little elephants.

Lions eat only meat(up to approximately 8 kg per day). By the way, using their strength, lions can select and steal prey from other animals.

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I have always really loved the cartoon "The Lion King". It happened that I even cried over touching moments. Recently I got seriously involved in studying animals, so I didn’t pass by this predator. Now you can find out where do lions live?

Where do lion representatives live?

On this moment lions live in African savannah, India and zoos. They usually live in groups called "prides". There are about 20 individuals in them, among which are not more than four males. Several centuries ago they lived:

• in the Middle East;
• Iran;
• in the southern outskirts of Russia.

But the hunters did their job. Hunting for valuable skins, they managed to destroy the habitat of this animal. In 1944 In Iran, the last lion was found, which, unfortunately, turned out to be dead.

Nowadays the king of beasts lives in the south of the Sahara Desert. Here lions feel security, which only contributes to their further reproduction. But so far this has not led to an increase in the number of individuals.

Many lions live in India, namely in a region called the Gir Forest. About 360 representatives live there. The government is trying to maintain the number of the king of beasts, trying to protect them from all sorts of dangers. Their efforts are not in vain, because the number of lions has begun to increase slightly.

My favorite place where lions like to live is the savannah. But often they can settle in places where a large number of shrubs grow. It is very important that it grows nearby special kind acacia, because this plant helps the animal protect itself from the hot sun. Lions don't live in wet forests or waterless deserts.

How long do lions live?

It has long been proven that in the wild these animals can survive about 15 years, because they not only need to constantly look for food, but also to escape from other predators. They often become disabled after fights with other individuals, which negatively affects their life expectancy.

If the lion is seriously injured, then he will no longer be able to hunt, which means that he will no longer be able to look for food for himself, which will quickly lead to death. I'm already silent about poachers who constantly kill poor lions.

In captivity they can live about 25 years if you care for them properly.

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Lions are one of my favorite wild animals. When I come to the zoo, I can stand for hours near a cage with lions and observe their habits. But last year I was able to go on a safari and watch these strong and brave animals in natural environment. We drove for almost half an hour in a special car behind the lion and lioness, and they did not pay any attention to us. The lions are probably already accustomed to the prying eyes of tourists.

Where are lions common?

These animals can be found only on two continents: Asia and Africa. Since I went to Africa, I’ll tell you more about the lions of this continent.

As a rule, lions here live in prides - this is such a large lion family, where the head is the alpha female and the alpha male. The number of such a pride can reach up to forty individuals.

Responsibilities here are strictly divided - males protect the pride from other lions (loners), and females hunt and raise cubs. Sometimes lions help them in hunting. Yes, and the males eat first, sometimes leaving just scraps for the others.

Lions hunt mainly at night, and during the day they simply rest. Well, the little cubs frolic like real big kittens.

Lions of India

They are also called Asiatic lions. They live in the state of Gujarat. And the main difference between these lions and African ones is that they do not live in prides.

These animals are on the verge of extinction and therefore their habitat is limited to only one state.

Asiatic lions are smaller in size than African lions, and their mane is not so thick, it feels like it is slicked down. Asiatic lions also have a fold on their belly.

I'll tell you some interesting facts about these animals:

• Lions typically weigh twice as much as lionesses.
• These animals have a good life, because for almost twenty hours during the knocking they simply rest.
• Lions have fairly long claws. They can reach seven centimeters in length.

For me, lions are the embodiment of such qualities as valor and courage.

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Recently I watched a news report about how one eccentric got a lion cub at home. I'm amazed at people like this, to be honest. A lion is a predator, no matter how you look at it. And what will grow out of this cute lion cub in a few years is difficult to predict. After all, it can bite... I have heard about such cases more than once.

Homeland of the lion

There are few lions left in the wild. Their numbers have decreased by known reason- extermination by man. Therefore, now lions can only be found in Asia and Africa.

And not throughout the entire territory, but only in some parts of it. Previously, they lived in Europe, and even in Russia.

Lions consider their home:

• forests;
• deserts;
• thickets of tall bushes.

Here they sleep and breed.

In order to increase the population, thousands of lions are kept in zoos in the most comfortable conditions. This is done in order to protect the remaining individuals from enemies and control the birth rate. In addition, these lions participate in exhibition events.

Why the lion is the king of beasts

From time immemorial, the lion is considered the king of beasts. But not everyone knows why.

It may seem that the king recognized the lion for his courage and dexterity. It's not like that. The lion is neither the most dexterous nor the fastest animal.

But he has other features that distinguish him favorably from other animals, and give him the right to be called the king of beasts. These include:

• unshakable self-confidence;
• majestic gait and posture;
• a gorgeous mane that looks like a crown;
• family structure, which the male strictly controls.

So clear family rules, which are in pride of lions, there are no more animals in any family.

Leo is the head of the family, who protects, protects, and takes care of his females and children. However, as a rule, it is the females who get food for the entire pride, and the father lion eats his fill first. While he is eating, no one has the right to touch the food.

Females are responsible for raising the younger generation. The king of beasts, being in a good mood, can only play with the cubs.

Lions are big, lions are impressive. In addition, they are constantly threatened by hunters and habitat loss. But despite all this, there are at least seven reasons why we should be glad that these animals still exist.

It is still not known why lions roar

Only some types of cats, mostly large ones, can roar - these are lions, tigers, jaguars, and so on, since they have a special structure, allowing them to make these loud and unusual sounds. It is believed that lions use roars to communicate, especially when it needs to be done over a long distance. However, it is still not known why the growl of these animals is so low and deep. There are a large number of assumptions, each of which is based on different points of view - some scientists say that this is due to the open spaces where lions live, others explain everything by the low frequency of the lion's voice.

Lion's mane

Male lions are unique creatures in the entire feline breed, as they are the only ones that grow a large woolly mane around their necks. The fur in the mane grows to approximately 23 centimeters and can be the most different colors, from white to black. It can also cover the head, neck, shoulders and even the chest of a lion. For a long time it was believed that the mane protected the lion during fights with other males. However, there is another reason why lions have a mane - it serves as a kind of sexual identifier for lionesses, which signals the health and masculinity of the male. The darker the mane, the more testosterone in the lion’s body, the longer it will live and the faster it will recover from injuries.

Lions can count

It turns out that lions have a rudimentary ability to count. When a pride hears the sound of a lion approaching, two or three lionesses are sent to meet it. But if you hear that two lions are approaching at once, four or five animals already go towards you. Moreover, it is likely that the lions are somehow constantly aware of how many members of their pride are nearby, as well as how many strangers are nearby.

Funny faces

When a lion smells something unusual, he wrinkles his nose, bares his teeth, and clenches his jaw, which changes the “cooking” of his muzzle. This phenomenon is known as the Flehmen reaction - all cats inhale odors through their nostrils and hold them inside for a few seconds. Some other animals also act in this way, such as horses. This behavior helps transmit the smell to a special organ located in the upper part of the lion's mouth. This is the vomeronasal organ, also called Jacobson's organ, and is responsible for recognizing different elements of smell.

Lions gather in "street gangs"

Lions are the only felines that always gather in groups called prides and live together on a permanent basis. Throughout Asia and Africa you can find a large number of prides of different sizes, usually consisting of one or more males, as well as large quantity females and cubs. However, the reasons for this still remain unclear. Most scientists believe that lionesses most often hunt together in order to surround the prey and make the task easier for themselves. But there is still no concrete confirmation of the connection between the hunting success of lions and their cohabitation. It is also worth noting that lions gather in prides in order to more reliably protect their territory.

Lions have unclear origins

People have been aware of the existence of lions literally since the dawn of humanity, ancestors modern people were forced to live side by side with these big cats on the territory of Africa. Despite this, details of where lions originated only began to become clearer in 2014. Research has shown that the ancient ancestors of modern lions lived on Earth 124 thousand years ago. Even then there was a division into two species, one of which still lives in Eastern and South Africa, and the other - in West Africa and India. The second species, by the way, is now under threat of extinction. This means that half of the genetic diversity of lions could disappear from the face of the Earth.

The mysterious fate of some lions

There are a number of subspecies of lions, some of which are quite mysterious. For example, Asiatic lions are a subspecies that lives in western India and neighbors local farmers who have a very positive attitude towards such neighbors. Another subspecies, the Barbary lion, is one of the most mysterious large predators in existence - due to its impressive appearance and the uncertainty of his fate. They were once very numerous, living in pairs or small groups, and had much more impressive manes and distinct skull shapes. But today these lions hold the record for loss of numbers. So far, there is not even accurate data that these lions survived at all - already in 1942 it was reported that there were very few of them left.

Let's consider how the sign Leo and type of appearance are connected in astrology. Leo () - in their appearance there is something of their royal counterpart. Leo is the central figure of the Zodiac, belongs to the element of Fire, the constellation is depicted in the form of Leo - a symbol of courage and strength, the support of which is the Serpent - a symbol of wisdom.

Leo - appearance of the zodiac sign

Leo is ruled by the Sun, which gives him great energy. Leos are tall and broad-shouldered, but there is another type - short and stocky. He is always a confident, handsome, courageous person, often with thick hair. The gait is firm, proud, and sometimes the softness of a cat can be seen in its movements.

In women, lazy grace is combined with hidden sensuality. Among Leos sometimes there are blue-eyed ones, but distinctive feature of this sign (especially women) are Brown eyes of different shades, from light to completely dark, round in shape, with slightly upturned corners.

They have a deceptively lazy look. Make no mistake - they are very attentive and observant. The hair color is often dark, sometimes bright red, the hair is wavy, often unruly.

It is believed that among all the signs of the zodiac, Leo gives the shortest height, although we know quite tall Leos. If, for example, the Sun is above the horizon and if some typically tall signs such as Sagittarius or Libra are on the Ascendant, then one would assume that the person to whom the horoscope belongs is unlikely to be short.

What does a Leo's appearance look like?

A good example there may be horoscope number 6 here. This is Leo with Libra on the Ascendant, and the ruler of his Ascendant is in Gemini, in addition, he has eight planets above the horizon. The height of this man is about one hundred and ninety centimeters.

If you are a typical Leo, you will have a large body, the largest head in the zodiac, as a rule, large bones, large rib cage. You are muscular and slim. Your hips are narrow, your waist is high, your shoulders are wide, stand straight.

People pay attention to your hair, often reminiscent lion's mane, although often such people may be bald or have little hair on their heads. You may have Thin hair, thick beard and eyebrows. It is also possible to have a case like Lucille Ball (Sun in Leo, Ascendant in Cancer), whose hair is an absolutely incredible color. It happens that you throw up your head, trying to straighten your hair.

Appearance of the zodiac sign Leo. You have lively, laughing eyes. They are green, shiny, as if oily. Your voice can be cheerful and loud, like the roar of a Lion. Sometimes men's voices turn into a high, breaking treble, while women's voices become deep and passionate.

If you meet someone whose hands remind you of paws - wide and relatively short, you know that this is a person with the Sun or Ascendant in Leo.

Your ears are big, and top part The pinna is adjacent to the head, which makes wearing earrings difficult. Your chin protrudes forward, but is rounded. Your lips are full underlip may be bulging. From birth, Leos can often see small moles. Some Leos look awkward.

Your nose towards the end is wide and full. With age, the edges of the nostrils sag somewhat, and wrinkles appear at the corners of the lips. If you are a woman with a Leo Sun or Ascendant, as you age you may tend to gain weight in both your upper and lower body, although you will remain slim. Some Leos have round eyes, and the whites around the iris are clear.

Famous Leos - description of appearance

Leo's appearance. A good example of a person born under the sign of Leo is Robert Redford. Although he has only the Sun and Mars in Leo, the Sun is here in his house, which on a physical level leads to weight gain.

The Pisces Ascendant here contributes by giving him attractiveness and charm, but the Sun in his house is more prominent than any other planet. Redford is short. Him high waist And broad shoulders, the head is large, the hair is thick and there are birthmarks.

Another great example with Leo on the Ascendant is Pablo Picasso. He is significantly more Leo-like than Scorpio, his sun sign, with the exception of piercing eyes, a typical Scorpio sign.

Since ancient times, the power has been recognized lion V animal world nature. His depictions in cave paintings, sculptures, coats of arms and flags indicate strength and authority.

IN Ancient Egypt man saw the beast as a powerful god of the earth. Before today he is called the king of beasts or king - lion, and protect from destruction one of the largest and most interesting animals on the ground.

Features and habitat of a lion

Among cats, only those whose size is not inferior to the king’s can enter into competition with a lion. The weight of the animal reaches 200-250 kg, the length of the body of an adult animal is almost 2.5 m, to which is added about a meter of tail with a black hair tassel. Inside there is a “spur” of terminal vertebrae, an additional weapon of the predator. Large dimensions do not prevent the animal from being agile and fast.

Males are distinguished by a mane that grows from the age of 2 and covers the body from neck to chest. The color of the mane darkens as the animal ages, adding even more significance. It is generally accepted that such a dense and elastic woolen mop softens the blows of opponents in fights.

The photo shows a male lion

The length of the mane hair reaches 40 cm. Its density, shape and color depend on many factors: age, habitat, subspecies, climate, living conditions. In captivity, the mane of lions is always more luxuriant, since it does not have to be ruffled in thickets or duels.

Big influence The formation of a mop of wool is influenced by the production of testosterone, so among lions, the leader status is always with the owner of an outstanding mane. Lionesses smaller in size, their weight is up to 140 kg, but they are more graceful than their partners, since they are the main hunters of the clan. The majestic mane and massive dimensions would interfere with tracking down prey.

The photo shows a lioness

The head of the beast is large, with an elongated muzzle and large jaws. Fangs up to 8 cm long will allow hunters to attack large animals. The body is muscular, the paws are strong, with retracted claws on the toes. The short hair on the body can be colored from whitish-gray to yellow-brown.

Main relatives lion in nature: jaguar, tiger and - animals of Africa. Their existence is confirmed by fossil remains, the age of which is estimated to be up to 1 million years.

Once upon a time, in ancient times, the habitat of lions was much larger than the present: it covered the entire territory of Africa, the Middle East, southern Europe, the south of present-day Russia, and the northwestern part.

The persecution of the animal by humans and the reduction of its habitat have become disastrous for the predator. It remains in nature only in sub-Saharan Africa and the Gir forest of the Indian state.

Of the 12 subspecies that existed, six have survived in modern times. Among the extinct subspecies is the famous Barbary a lion, the largest wild animal from relatives. The weight of the giants exceeded 300 kg, and the body length was over 3 m. The last representative of the species was exterminated in 1922.

White Lion not identified as an independent subspecies animal. The cream color of the fine coat is the result of genetic characteristics. South African captive breeders raise these to order for trophy purposes.

In the photo there is a white lion

Savannas are the favorite habitats of lions, but sometimes they move to forests or areas overgrown with bushes. Animals need large bodies of water and ungulate mammals - their main hunting objects.

Character and lifestyle of a lion

Among cats, lions are distinguished by the formation of a separate family group, or pride. It consists of several adult individuals, as well as their offspring. Young lion cubs leave their parent pride after reaching puberty.

They become loners for the time being, until they find a new pride with an old leader who will give in to the strong, or they remain nomads for the rest of their lives. The pride lives on certain rules to which group members report. Strangers are driven out here, males protect their territory, family ties play a connecting role.

Pictured is a pride of lions

The main breadwinners during the hunt are lionesses. Their advantage is maneuverability, flexibility and speed. Success depends on consistency and the manifestation of Leo qualities. The productivity of hunting by an animal in a group is obvious, but the division of the prey depends on the male, if he is nearby. It should be noted that lions are aggressive towards each other while consuming food.

Males rarely hunt on their own, but if they catch the prey, the lion feeds alone. Mane increases physical activity and contributes to body overheating, therefore the main role hunters belong to females. Each predator in the pride performs a specific mission: breadwinner, guard of territory, protector of offspring.

Photo of lionesses on the hunt

The greatest activity of predators occurs after sunset. Excellent night vision contributes to successful hunting. After lions indulge in rest and caring for their offspring. Which animal can be seen in the circle of relatives during the day.

The king of beasts has practically no enemies thanks to large sizes and strength. But death and injury befall the animals in the struggle for the place of leader in the pride. Males are not inferior to rivals in cases of collisions. Sick or injured animals weaken and become victims of hyenas, buffalos or leopards.

Large predators suffer from small ticks that infect areas where the animal cannot reach an area of ​​the body with its teeth or paws. Eating animal meat leads to infection with helminths. Diseases force prides to migrate to maintain numbers.

Lion food

The diet of predators consists mainly of artiodactyl animals: livestock, antelopes, zebras and others Savannah animals. a lion Even carrion and small rodents will not be missed. Despite the sharp and long fangs, the predator strangles its victims.

The ability to sneak up silently and then jump at the victim with lightning speed leaves no chance of salvation for many inhabitants of the savannah. The lion is strong and fast over short distances, so it gets as close as possible to herds for rapid leaps. This distance is approximately 30 m. Several predators of the same pride attack from different sides simultaneously.

Hunting takes place more often at night. One successful outing provides 4-5 pride animals with enough food for a week. The victims are ungulates weighing from 50 to 300 kg. In Africa, these are more often wildebeest, zebras, and buffalos; in India, deer. Attacks on rhinoceroses or adult giraffes are rare due to the risk of injury.

The choice of prey depends on their availability in the region; in large individuals, the predator is interested in young animals or injured and weakened individuals. At one time, a lion can eat up to 30 kg of meat, although 7 kg for a male and 5 kg for a female are enough to satiate.

If prey needs to be preserved, then lions guard it from agile hyenas, attracted by the flight of vultures over the food. Hunting unites the pride: males come to the rescue in case of a large victim, and the offspring observe the actions of the adults.

Lion cubs begin to go out for their first hunting attempts at the age of 1 year, and from the age of 2 years they independently obtain food. Attacks on humans are typical for animals that have lost the ability to hunt ungulates.

Reproduction and lifespan

Sexual maturity of lionesses occurs at 4 years of age. The birth of offspring is not tied to seasons, so there may be cubs of different ages next to the mother. Pregnancy lasts up to 110 days, and the litter, as a rule, consists of 3 cubs. After birth, they are completely helpless: small in size, up to 30 cm long and approximately 1.5 kg in weight, and blind. They begin to see after a week, and walk after three weeks.

In the photo there are lion cubs

From the place where the babies are born, remote and hidden from the pride, the female transfers the offspring to a new rookery. He does this often to protect the cubs from predators who smell the accumulated odor. , are famous lovers of hunting little lion cubs. The lioness returns to the pride after 6-8 weeks.

If the main male in a pride gives way to a stronger one, then the offspring of the former leader have no chance of surviving. The cubs will be destroyed. There are enough threats and risks for the survival of babies, so only 20% of them grow up after two years.

In a pride, lion cubs stay close to their mother; other females do not always allow other people’s babies to approach them. But there are cases when lion nurseries are formed from cubs under the supervision of one lioness while others hunt.

At the age of 4-5 years, young individuals who have left their native pride try to win the place of the old leader in someone else’s family. If the females support him, he will win. Many weakened lions die in defense of the pride.

The life of predators in nature is up to 15 years, and in captivity it increases significantly to 20-30 years. An animal's presence in a pride prolongs its life, in contrast to exiled individuals leading a wandering lifestyle. The royal greatness of the beast is revealed when surrounded by its pride, which is perhaps why people are so interested in this predator with family values.