African Lion
CONSERVATION STATUS:
Vulnerable
African Lion Facts
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Panthera leo
LIFE SPAN:
10-14 years
SIZE:
5.6ft to 8.2ft
WEIGHT:
330-550 pounds
DIET:
wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, gazelle, eland, gemsbok, giraffe
PReDATORS:
Lions are apex predators, meaning they have no known predators. Lion prides will attack each other and humans many times will kill lions.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The lion is a very muscular cat and is one of the largest members of the feline family. Lions mainly have gold fur with a white or silver under body, and male lions have manes of varying color and size depending on maturity and genetic variation. The mane is only seen on male lions and is many times brown and gold. Female lions are smaller than male lions. Spots can be seen on lion cubs but these spots fade as the lion reaches adulthood.
BEHAVIOR:
Lions are inactive for 20 hours a day and are mainly active during night time hours. A group of lions is called a pride and is many times composed of mostly female lions with one male lion. Male lions will protect their prides from other male lions and other intruders. If a male lion is not in a pride, it will roam alone or will form a coalition with other male lions. When coexisting with other predators, lions will often steal a fresh kill and take it as its own. Lions are strong climbers and can steal animals that leopards have placed in trees.
THREATS:
Lions are many times severely hurt by other lions or by human interaction. Human intervention has severely decreased the lion population in Africa as the lions are killed for sport and because they are seen as a nuisance to African farmers. The lion population has had no time to recover as poachers and hunters are killing them everyday.
How can you Help?
Click here for African Wildlife Foundation Website for conservation education.
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Learn all the facts about African Lions and their conservation and share it with others.
Don’t visit places that offer pictures with baby lions. These animals have usually been taken at young ages from their parents!
