Page 100 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large cat and one of five (Leopard, Jaguar, Tiger, Snow leopard)
extant species in the genus Panthera (There are two subspecies*) which is a member of the family
Felidae. It is found in groups across Africa and India. It stands around 1.2 metres high at the shoul-
der, 1.8 to 2.1 metres in length, with a 1 metre long tail and around 170 to 230 kg in weight. Females
are slightly smaller. The ancestor of the lion is believed to have appeared around 9 to 11 million
years ago. However, some 500,000 to
400,000 years ago, the lion diverged
from this ancestor and became the ani-
mal we know today.

*Subspecies
Northern lion Panthera leo leo
Asiatic lion P. l. persica

Lions differ considerably between
the sexes. The lioness is smaller than
the male, tends to be leaner built, has a
smaller rounded head with no trace of a
mane around the neck, while the male
is larger, more broad-chested, with a
broad head. What is most noticeable
about the male however, is its mane, or
the lack of one. Some lions have a thick
bushy mane, others a much shorter one
and others have only a sparse grouping of untidy loose hair around the neck.
Its limbs are relatively short with large paws supporting five clawed toes. As
an apex predator the lion has powerful jaws. It has a good sense of smell and
although its ears are small has excellent hearing. Its eyesight is good during
the day but at night it has exceptional vision. Its fur coat is short and varies
in colour from a light buff to silvery grey, yellowish red and dark brown with
a lighter blending shade on its underside.

The lion’s habitat varies from grassy plains, savannahs, bushland bor-
dering rivers, and open woodlands. Lions are a social species and will usual-
ly live together in groups known as a pride. A pride could consist of 15 or
more animals usually several females, their cubs and three or four males. The pride lives in a well-
defined territory that they rigorously defend against all intruders. Males patrolling the fringes of the
prides territory will urinate and defecate to mark out the boundary and females will vigorously drive
off any outside female’s trying to join the pride. Single males – rare among lions – are solitary ani-
mals, and have a territory or range of their own which they patrol. They also hunt on their own but
tackle only medium sized animals, as big prey usually requires more than one to bring down and kill.
Lions rest a lot, around 16 to 18 hours a day, and spend a great deal of time licking and pruning. In a
pride they socialise by gently head-butting and licking one another. They have a wide range of facial
expressions and sounds. Their main sounds are growling, snarling, meowing and roaring but when
mingling with one another can be heard to quietly purr, puff, bleat and hum. Males roar to ward off
others and announce their presence. Usually, their loud roar tapers off to a huge grunt like sound.

Lions are carnivores, and while those in Africa prey on ungulates such as blue wildebeest, zeb-
ra, African buffalo, warthog, gemsbok and giraffe, lions in India prey mainly on various deer species.
Females are prolific stalker hunters and hunting in organised groups they tend to down more prey.
However, males do hunt, but on their own, and are usually successful. Females share with the males
as males do with the females. But males do not like to share with other males and are constantly
squabbling with one another over every kill. Females require around 5kg of meat a day while males
around 7kg, but males, with a big kill, will gorge themselves, eating a staggering 30kg in one session.
Once finished eating lions will find a warm shaded place to rest or sleep. However, if the kill is not
finished, males will stand guard, fending off any opportunistic predators bent on scavenging the re-
mains of their kill.