In the hall, on the wall we have a large picture of a lion hanging. For a long time I chose between a tiger and a lion, but the choice fell on the king of beasts. It is quite understandable why the lion is called that. His luxurious mane alone is worth it. It even closely resembles a royal crown. Lions look very majestic. I'll tell you a little about the life of these predators.
Where and how do lions live?
Lions are sometimes called wild cats. Indeed, they belong to the cat family. Lions always live in groups. It is also common to call them prides. The life of lions in prides occurs according to certain rules :
- always in pride several females present;
- there is a fixed one behind the group territory;
- Females are responsible for hunting and feeding.
Even a small child can distinguish a lion from other animals. Of course, exactly Griva is the main distinguishing feature. I think everyone knows that only males have it. And it doesn’t appear for them right away. A lion's full mane is formed only in the 6th year of life.
IN wildlife lions found only in Africa and India. Most of them live in African territory. Lions prefer to settle in the savannahs, where a special type of acacia grows, which helps them hide from the heat and sultry sun.
In Africa, lions can be found almost anywhere below the Sahara. In India, these predators remained only in the western part. This area has a name Gir forest. There are very few lions left here, so they are trying to protect them by all means.
Lions in captivity
Lions don't only live in the wild. They can often be found in a zoo, nature reserve and even at the circus. I don’t like the circus, where animals have to participate in performances every day. I don't think they like it. But in the zoo, with good care, lions live very willingly and easily bear offspring. The most important thing is to stick content rules:
- good good nutrition;
- no sources of irritation for an animal;
- compliance with safety measures.
It is not at all difficult to keep such a predator, so in almost any zoo you can see an enclosure with a lion. Even in the cold, this animal feels comfortable, since in their permanent habitats the air temperature drops significantly at night.
The power and strength of the lion are covered in legends. Because he looks truly regal. The imagination first of all pictures a lion in its prime. His incomparable dark gold or black-brown mane gives him the majesty of a monarch. And the lion's voice is no less impressive than his appearance. On a quiet night, a lion's roar causes awe in everyone who hears it - even eight kilometers away. In his behavior, the lion also shows many royal qualities.
The lion is a huge predator, with a strong, flexible, agile and muscular body. He runs well. This is a large predatory cat that has well-developed muscles in the neck and front legs, with which it captures and holds its prey. The lion's jaws are powerful, with huge fangs. The lion's grip with just its teeth is very strong. It can even hold animals as large as wildebeest. The tongue is rough and covered with tubercles in the form of sharp spines, which help it grab and tear off pieces of meat, literally tearing its prey apart. These same spines help the lion catch fleas and remove ticks when he grooms his skin. Lions hunt large animals: zebras, gazelles, wildebeests, and do not hesitate to steal, taking prey from other predators.
The male lion is much larger than the female and is 50 percent heavier in weight. He is easily recognized by his massive mane.
The huge weight of the lion gives crushing force to its blow. He easily scatters females when he takes prey from them. Many males live by feeding exclusively on food obtained by females, and almost never try to get anything themselves. Typically, the main role of males is to protect the territory from other animals encroaching on it. Females are mainly engaged in hunting. Lions differ from other cats in that they do not hunt alone, but in groups. They first try to isolate the prey from the herd, and then attack and kill it. They usually hunt at night, especially on the plains where the grass is short and it is difficult for a predator to hide in it.
Several lionesses surround the target animal, approaching it to within about 30 meters, and in this way they finally determine their choice. When the lioness comes very close to the victim, she will knock her down with a strong blow from her huge paws and immediately sink her teeth into her throat. Every fourth attack usually ends in complete victory for the predators. When the hunters eagerly pounce on their prey, the male lion appears. It is possible that a pack of hyenas may be nearby. Usually lions, having dealt with a large killed animal, generously allow others to feast on the prey. The habitat is usually defended by male lions. Within one territory, a flock of lions can live, consisting of six male lions, twelve adult lionesses and young lion cubs.
Depending on living conditions in a given territory and the number of other animals, a flock can occupy an area of up to 400 square km.
However, where there is more than enough food, this area may be significantly smaller. Lions breed at any time of the year, however, females of one pack (pride) prefer to have cubs at the same time (to make it easier to protect them from other predators and male lions of another pride). They even feed them, without dividing them into friends and foes. If one female dies, the others take care of the deceased's cubs. On average, a lioness brings up to three cubs in one litter. The cubs stay with their mother for up to six months while they suckle her. From the age of three months they begin to eat meat little by little. Lionesses in a pride are almost always related to each other and are reluctant to accept strangers. Male lion cubs are taught to hunt later than lionesses; sometimes young lions begin to learn only in the fifth year of life. Therefore, it is important that males remain in their home pride for as long as possible, but they are usually kicked out when they are still young. These exiled males sometimes form a pack where they have a better chance of survival. A pride of bachelor males is short-lived. Driven by instincts, males go to prides where lionesses live, and there they try to fight for leadership. In the heat of battle, success favors the strongest and most agile, and the once friendly pack of males soon disintegrates. One of the mysteries of lion behavior was that for some reason the males killed their cubs. Now this mystery has been solved. The fact is that the attack of males is caused by their jealousy of young lion cubs. Male lions do not tolerate unnecessary rivals in their pack, so they strive to get rid of them. There is another explanation for such cruel and incomprehensible behavior. The male in this way encourages the female to give birth to new cubs. And they have a better chance of survival than previous cubs. And they will get more food.
During the mating period, the relationship between partners is very tender. The dominant lion mates with a female who is in heat every twenty to thirty minutes - and so on for hours (up to 30-40 times a day in total). During sexual intercourse, the male lion bites the lioness on the scruff of the neck, as is typical for cats. Three and a half months after mating, the pregnant lioness leaves the pride, finds a secluded corner overgrown with grass and gives birth to offspring there. Lion cubs are born blind and helpless. Their skin is covered with spots that gradually disappear as they grow older (although adult lions with preserved “children’s” spots are occasionally found). In most cases, no more than half of all lion cubs survive. Lion cubs suck mother's milk from birth until they are six to seven months old. Then they eat only meat. At about two months of age, lion cubs join the pride. A lion is considered an adult at 5 years old and by this time has reached its optimal “fighting” size.
The lion is one of the largest predators on earth. The average African male weighs about 350 pounds (160 kilograms), and reaches a length of about 8.5 feet (2.6 meters). However, a male weighing 690 pounds (313 kilograms) was shot in South Africa in 1936. The animal was exceptionally massive; probably, individuals of this weight no longer exist in nature. Life expectancy: up to 17-20 years in nature and up to 30 years in captivity.
White lions are lions with reduced production of the pigment melanin. The reason for this phenomenon is a recessive gene that rarely manifests itself. The result of its action is a light color ranging from creamy beige to snow-white. Some white lions are white in some parts of the body and cream in others; some are painted a smooth white-cream color. White lions often have blue eyes (which is also associated with low melanin levels). There are currently about 300 white lions living on earth. Exist special programs to preserve this type of color. But such a color only harms the lions themselves, living in the wild, as it unmasks them, preventing them from hunting. There is an assumption that the gene that gives white coloring in lions remained from distant ancestors who lived in glacial period, When White color wool was needed for camouflage
A little history of lions:
Lions reached their maximum distribution at the end of the Pleistocene: approximately 100,000–10,000 years ago they had the most extensive land range among mammals. Various geographic races or subspecies of lions were found from Alaska and the Yukon to North America to Peru in Southern, throughout Europe, in Asia to Siberia and most of Africa. They became extinct in North America approximately 10,000 years ago. IN historical times lions lived in the extreme south of Africa and throughout the north of this continent, as well as throughout Western Asia, reaching India, where they occupied semi-desert plains in the northern half of the country, and the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. On the European continent, lions were exterminated by 100 AD, and in other parts of their former range - by the end of the last century. In Iran, a few lions remained until 1942; in India their number was reduced to about 25, and they remained there only in the Gir forest, but they were taken under protection and their population has increased significantly since the 1940s. Now there are approximately 225 Asiatic lions. Studies have shown that these animals are morphologically and genetically different from African ones. Unfortunately, apparently as a result of prolonged inbreeding, Asiatic lions have almost completely lost their genetic diversity, which reduces their adaptive flexibility when changing environment. In addition, they have symptoms of reproductive dysfunction (low sperm quality with numerous abnormalities). Lions breed easily in captivity. As part of a worldwide program covering dozens of zoos, over the years they have already received several hundred Asiatic lions, constituting their “reserve” population, which can be used to strengthen the wild one. However, it was recently discovered that the founders of this population in captivity were not only purebred Asian, but also African lions, so work is now underway to create a new, “pure” population, as well as to establish separate pedigree books for those bred in zoos African lions.
Leo is called the "King of Beasts". In the European tradition, it is a symbol of power, embodying the power of the sun and fire. In heraldry, the lion symbolizes royalty and nobility. In countries South-East Asia(China, Japan, Korea) since ancient times there has been a special, highly mythologized and stylized image of a lion - the so-called Chinese lion. It bears little resemblance to a real lion, and rather resembles a mythical creature. According to beliefs Ancient China, lion is the mythical protector of the Law, guardian of sacred buildings. It is a symbol of power and success, royal power and strength. Such lions were installed as “guardians” in front of the gates of imperial tombs, government residences, administrative buildings and religious buildings of Imperial China (approximately since the Han Dynasty) and Japan. Currently, it is an attribute of Buddhist temples in East Asia (China, Korea, Japan) and Central Asia (Mongolia and Russia) and Shinto shrines.
How many years do lions live? In order to fully answer this question, you need to understand what exactly determines the life expectancy of such a large predator, the real king of beasts - Leo.
Even in medieval times, their habitat was more than extensive.
Lions could be found throughout the region of Africa, the Middle East and Iran. They inhabited Northern and Northwestern India, the southern part of Europe, and southern Russia.
The life of these predatory mammals was completely different, but these beautiful animals were always in the field of view of man, who interfered with their usual, territorial affiliation.
Lions were destroyed for self-defense, caught for demonstration circus tricks and simply for the sake of a hunting trophy. And by now the number of these animals has decreased significantly. Currently, lions can be found only in some areas of Africa and the environs of the Indian state of Gujarat.
Lions have a very peculiar appearance. At the same time, males hold the record for shoulder height among cats and have a yellowish-gray color. The jaws of these animals are so strong and their legs are powerful that they can easily hunt large animals. But there is one more feature that distinguishes males from females: the mane. The color of the mane often matches the color of the skin, but it can also be brighter or dark shade, and at the end of the tail, both females and males have a tassel of long hair.
Lions in the wild
In the language of animals, fur raised on the back of the neck means aggressiveness; such individuals are considered and feared; nature has endowed male lions with a lush and luxurious mane, which adds majesty and menacingness to them. In fact, lions are not as scary as they seem. Despite their strength and severity, for most of the day, about 20 hours a day, lions rest stretched out in the sun; they hunt most often in the morning or evening, spending a long time looking for a suitable victim. Lions are social animals, they live in families - prides.
A pride usually consists of one or more males - related by blood, several females and their cubs. As soon as the cubs reach the age of 2-3 years, they are expelled from the pride, and they live separately from everyone else, becoming wandering lions. These lions search for food alone, most often taking prey from the pride or from scavengers. Young lionesses do not leave the pride. In addition to living in prides in Africa, there are lion pairs that live independently.
Among the females there is a clear distribution of roles during the hunt and outside of it, because the survival of the entire pride depends on this. Someone is watching the cubs, someone is resting, and someone is watching to see if there are females or males from another pride on the horizon. The basis of the lion's diet is wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, kudu and kongoni, sometimes warthogs and deer are on the menu. Hunting is done in a group. Lions run slowly and cannot chase for a long time your sacrifice, therefore main goal for them it is driving prey to a dead end, encircling and attacking.
The pregnant female leaves the pride to a secluded place, where, after 110 days, from one to four blind and helpless lion cubs are born. They are alone with their mother for up to seven weeks, after which the lioness places the cubs under the protection of her pride. It is interesting that males, if there are any in the pride, are much more tolerant of lion cubs than females; they are more willing to play with them and share their prey.
How many years do lions live?
So how long does a lion live in the wild? Taking into account all of the above, it becomes clear that the lifespan of a lion depends on many factors.
In the wild, despite their menacing appearance and truly terrible strength and dexterity, these predators face a lot of dangers, injuries and wounds, which do not contribute to prolonging life.
These include skirmishes with strangers over territory, after which one of the lions often becomes disabled and subsequently cannot fully demonstrate his strength and dexterity while hunting, and attacks from other equally aggressive predators.
These are injuries and wounds that occur during the hunting of large animals like buffalo, after which the animal naturally cannot hunt and eat well, and therefore live long.
But the biggest problem for the lion remains poachers. So in the wild, the life expectancy of lions is on average 8-10, much less often 14 years.
It is worth noting that lionesses live a couple of years longer than males, most likely due to the fact that they do not need to participate in skirmishes with strangers for territories.
Lions in nature reserves and zoo
Back at the end of the 18th century, trying to save these beautiful animals from extinction, people tried to keep them in nature reserves and zoos, where lions were able to live and reproduce normally. At the same time, their life expectancy increases noticeably, from 10-14 years, from the fact that lions can live in the wild, to 20 and even up to 25 or more years, with proper care and supervision of veterinarians in the reserve and a little less in the zoo - usually about 20 years. So most main centenarian Of all the lions, he has lived 29 years to date.
We tried to give the most detailed answer to the question about the life expectancy of the most important representative of the cat family, and animals in general - the lion. And if your child is interested in the life expectancy of lions, you can certainly tell your son or daughter how many years lions live in the wild, in the reserve and in the zoo.
Representatives of the cat family. An impressive lush mane, a ferocious roar, a muscular huge body, a death grip - all this very much characterizes the powerful and strong king of the jungle. People call lions the kings of the jungle. Hence the misconception was born that these live in tropical thickets.
The weight of an adult male lion can reach 250 kg, and a female 150 kg. The body length of the animal is from 2.3 m to 3.0 m.
Lion habitats
In fact, lions today can be found exclusively in two places on the globe - in the African savannah, and also in India. They settle mostly in groups, which scientists call prides. These groups number about 20 individuals, of which, as a rule, no more than 4 are males.In the Middle Ages, Lviv was much more extensive - the entire territory of Africa, excluding the tropics and desert, the Middle East, Iran, part of Europe, even the southern outskirts of Russia, India. But the hunt for lion skins and wars destroyed the predator’s usual environment. Lions have lost much of their range. In 1944, the last lion in Europe was found in Iran - it was dead.
Now in Africa, lions occupy the territory south of the famous Sahara Desert. Here, in unlimited living conditions, animals feel more than comfortable, which contributes to their reproduction. Despite this, the lion population is rapidly decreasing every year.
About 80% of all lions on the globe live on the hottest continent on the planet - Africa.
In India, the kings of the jungle occupy an area in the West of the country with an area of 1400 sq. km. They settled in an area in a region called the Gir Forest. Unfortunately, this population of felines is quite small - about 360 individuals. The sad statistics forced the country's government to protect lions and do everything to prevent the population from declining wild cats. And this played a positive role: according to the latest data, the number of the group began to slowly grow.
Savannah is considered a favorite place where lions prefer to live, but they often settle in areas with an abundance of shrubs and forests. Important for lions is the presence of a special type of acacia in the area of settlement. It is this plant that protects flocks from the scorching sun, and also saves them from heat and sunstroke. Lions do not live in dense, humid forests and arid deserts.
a lion (lat. Panthera Leo)- a predatory mammal of the panther genus (lat. Panthera), the largest after tigers, a representative of the subfamily big cats (lat. Pantherinae) and a member of the cat family (lat. Felidae).
Description
Lions are large cats with short, yellowish-brown fur and long tails with a black tassel at the end. They are sexually dimorphic, and males are the only ones with a mane. The three-year-old male grows a mane that ranges in color from black to light brown. Manes tend to be thicker on lions living in open area. Adult males weigh about 189 kg; The record holder for the heaviest weight was a male, reaching 272 kilograms. Females weigh on average 126 kg. The average height at the withers of males is 1.2 meters, and that of females is 1.1 meters. The body length ranges from 2.4-3.3 m, and the tail length is 0.6-1.0 m. The longest recorded male lion was 3.3 meters.
Cubs up to 3 months old have brown spots on their grayish fur. These spots can remain throughout the life of the lion, especially the East African species. Albinism may occur in some populations, but there are no published records confirming melanism (black fur) in lions. Adults have 30 teeth, and adult females have 4 mammary glands.
Asiatic lions (P. l. persica) are much smaller in size than African lions and have a less dense mane. Their knees, tail tufts and longitudinal folds of skin on the abdomen are larger than those of African lions. Although Asiatic and African lions have genetic differences, they are no more significant than the genetic differences between human races.
Area
African lions (Panthera Leo) distributed south of the Sahara Desert, with the exception of deserts and tropical forests. Lions were once hunted to extinction in South Africa, but can now be found in the Kruger and Kalahari-Gemsbok national parks, and possibly in some other protected areas. Previously, lions lived in southwest Asia and northern Africa.
Asiatic lions (P. l. persica) belong to the one remaining subspecies in this region. After migrating from Greece to central India, Asiatic lions persist in the Gir Forest and northwestern India.
African lions live in plains or savannas, where there is a large amount of food supply (mainly ungulates) and the opportunity to hide in reliable shelter. In such optimal habitats, lions are the second most common large predator after the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Lions can live in wider ranges, with the exception of deserts. These predators are also adapted to life in forest, bush, mountain and semi-desert areas. Lviv can be found on high altitudes. There is a population of lions that lives in the mountains of Ethiopia at an altitude of 4240 meters.
Asiatic lions live in the trees, shrubs and teak vegetation of the small Gir forest, India.
Reproduction
Lions breed throughout the year and are generally polygamous animals. It is believed that lions copulate 3,000 times for each cub. One estrus in five results in pregnancy, and lions mate approximately 2.2 times per hour during the four-day estrus period. The main male of the pride has priority for mating with any female. There is usually no competition between males for females.
Males are noticeably larger and more showy, so they control the reproduction of many females during their reign over the pride. They form coalitions with other males to increase their chances of absorbing another pride. Fierce competition among males and the social structure of the pride leads to the killing of cubs of both sexes. The males who dominate the pride usually rule for about 2 years, until another representative, younger and stronger, overthrows his predecessor. Consuming prides through combat and often violence results in serious injury and even death to the loser.
The reproductive advantage of the dominant male is expressed in the killing of small cubs, defeated males. A lioness who has lost her cubs leaves the pride for 2-3 weeks, and then returns during the estrus period. The optimal period between births is considered to be 2 years. Thus, by getting rid of all the small cubs at the moment of absorption of the pride, the males provide themselves with the opportunity to become fathers and take possession of females that were previously inaccessible to them. Females who resolutely defend their offspring during attacks may lose their lives.
Females breed throughout the year, but peak during the rainy season. As a rule, lion cubs are born once every 2 years. However, if the female's offspring dies (mainly with the participation of a lion), then her estrus occurs earlier, and less time passes between pregnancies. Females are able to reproduce at the age of 4 years, and males - at 5 years. A lioness gives birth to 1 to 6 cubs after a 3.5-month pregnancy. There is an interval between pregnancies of about 20-30 months. Newborn kittens weigh from 1 to 2 kg. Eyes, as a rule, open on the 11th day, begin to walk after 15 days, and are capable of running by the age of one month. A lioness guards her cubs for 8 weeks. Lion cubs stop feeding on milk at the age of 7-10 months, but they are very dependent on the adults in the pride, at least until they reach the age of 16 months.
| Breeding interval | Breeding season | Number of babies born at one time |
| Females typically have cubs every 2 years. However, if the cubs die (due to the invasion of the male), then the female comes into heat earlier, and accordingly she becomes pregnant more often. | Reproduction occurs throughout the year, but the greatest activity occurs during the rainy season. | From 1 to 6 |
| Average number of offspring | Average length of pregnancy | Age of weaning of cubs from mother's milk |
| 3 | 3.5 months (109 days) | 7-10 months |
| Lion cubs gain independence | Average age of reproductive maturity in females | Average age of reproductive maturity in males |
| Not earlier than 16 months | 4 years | 5 years |
Females are mainly engaged in raising offspring. They not only feed their cubs, but also take care of the young of their relatives from the pride, if the lion cubs have a small age difference. The mortality rate among kittens is low, this is due to the synchronous feeding of milk to young animals from the same pride. If cubs are born to several lionesses at the same time, the entire pride participates in their upbringing. Cubs are often left alone for more than one day at 5-7 months of age. They are most vulnerable during this period and may be attacked by predators (often hyenas). Hungry mothers often abandon weak lion cubs that are not able to keep up with the entire pride. Although males do not care for the offspring, they play an important role in protecting the young from competing males. As long as the male maintains control over the pride, preventing another male from taking over, the risk of infanticide by competitors is reduced.
Lifespan
Females tend to live longer than males (about 15-16 years). Lions are at the peak of their strength between 5 and 9 years of age, with only a small proportion of males surviving after reaching 10 years of age. Some males live up to 16 years in the wild. In the Serengeti, females reach the age of 18 years. In captivity, lions live for about 13 years. The oldest lion lived 30 years.
Adults are not threatened by predators, but are vulnerable to humans, starvation, and attacks from other lions. Infanticide is an important factor in increasing mortality among lion cubs.
Female Asiatic lions live an average of 17-18 years, with a maximum of 21. Male Asiatic lions usually reach the age of 16 years. The mortality rate of adult Asiatic lions is less than 10%. In the Gir Forest, about 33% of cubs die within the first year of life.
Behavior
Prides are the main social structure of lion society. Their members can come and leave these groups. The number of lions varies from 2 to 40 individuals. In Kruger and Serengeti National Parks, prides consist of an average of 13 lions. The average composition of these prides is 1.7 adult males, 4.5 adult females, 3.8 juveniles, and 2.8 cubs.
Resident males of prides are immigrants who gained control of the pride by force. In order to successfully take over the family, males form coalitions, usually of brothers. Young men leave their pride when their fathers (or new leaders) begin to view them as competitors, usually at 2.5 years of age. These males are nomadic for two to three years and then form a coalition and look for a pride to conquer. Coalitions of 2 males tend to rule a pride for no more than 2.5 years, which is enough time to produce one generation of cubs. Coalitions of 3-4 males usually rule the pride for more than 3 years. Coalitions of more than 4 males are very rare because large coalitions have difficulty sticking together.
Prides consist of females who are related to each other. They remain to live on their mother's territory. Females do not compete with each other and do not express dominant behavior, as is observed in some matriarchal social systems. Females with related ties often reproduce synchronously and then cross-feed milk to each other's young. This mutually beneficial behavior prevents dominance. Unlike females, males are very aggressive towards other members of the pride, especially when eating food. The lack of dominant behavior among females may have made raising offspring easier, since females cannot influence the reproduction of other female members of the pride. On the other hand, the mutualistic benefits of co-parenting have reduced the tendency for pride to form hierarchies.
Lions have the ability to injure and even kill other lions when confronted in a fight. Fighting with a male of the same age and sex not only puts the life of one individual at risk, but there is also the possibility of injuring an important member of the team, who will later be able to protect the pride from danger.
The behavior of lions from the Serengeti National Park, located in Tanzania, has been continuously studied since 1966. Research has shown that lions form groups for a variety of reasons, not including increased efficiency during hunting. Because lions live in more populated areas than other big cats, they need to cooperate with their own kind to protect their territories from being consumed by other lions. In addition, lionesses reproduce their offspring synchronously and form fairly stable groups that protect lion cubs from infanticide. Finally, small prides tend to be more sociable than other large prides in order to defend their territories as a large group.
The territories where lions live have a wide variety of mammals (prey), in open areas there are about 12 lions per 100 square kilometers. In areas with sufficient prey, lions sleep about twenty hours a day. They become most active at the end of the day. Hunting often occurs at night and early morning.
Lions have a greeting ritual: they rub their head and tail along an air ring against each other, while making a sound similar to a groan.
Communication and perception
Lions have the cognitive ability to recognize people and interact with other lions, which helps them survive. They use visual cues in these connections. For example, the mane is believed to act as a signal for copulation and indicate the suitability of the male. (The rate of mane growth is primarily controlled by testosterone).
Males regularly mark their territory by spraying urine on vegetation and rubbing the sides of trees. Females rarely do this. This behavior in lions begins after two years. This type of marking is chemical and visual.
Males begin to growl after a year, and females a little later. The male's roar is louder and deeper than the female's. Lions can roar at any time, but usually do so while standing or crouching slightly. The roar serves to protect the territory, communicate with other members of the pride, and also as a demonstration of aggression towards enemies. Lions also roar in chorus, perhaps as a form of social communication.
Finally, lions use tactile communication. Males display physical aggression during the period of pride management. When greeting members of the pride, the bodies of two individuals come into contact. A physical connection is present between the nursing female and her offspring.
Nutrition
Lions are predatory animals. As a rule, they hunt in groups, but they are also found alone. Lions often take down prey larger than themselves. Due to their pronounced physique, males have a more difficult time camouflaging than females, so in a pride females do most of the prey catching. Males behave more aggressively during feeding than females, although most likely they were not the ones who killed the prey.
African lions feed on the most common large ungulates (Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), zebra (Equus burchellii), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus)). Individual prides usually have a preference for certain animals, such as buffalo (Syncerus caffer) And . Lions that are unable to capture large prey may temporarily feed on birds, rodents, ostrich eggs, fish, amphibians and reptiles. Lions can also feed on hyenas and vultures.
In the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, local lions feed on 7 species of animals: zebras (Equus burchellii), wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Thomson's gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii), buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), cow antelopes (Alcelaphus buselaphus) and swamp with antelopes (Damaliscus lunatus).
Hunting becomes more effective during group attacks. Studies in the Serengeti have shown that an individual succeeds in hunting about 17% of the time, while the group succeeds 30%.
Threats
Adult lions have no animal threats, but are subject to human persecution. Lions often kill and compete with other predators - leopards (Panthera pardus) And . Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), are known to kill lion cubs, as well as young, weak or sick individuals.
Left for some time, lion cubs can become victims of other large predators. However, infanticide is the main threat to baby lions.
Poaching is the main threat to lions. These animals are subject to attacks with firearms and also fall into wire traps. Because lions can scavenge, they are especially vulnerable when consuming deliberately poisoned carcasses. Some national parks in Africa are haunted by poachers. It is estimated that poachers killed an estimated 20,000 lions in the Serengeti National Park in the 1960s. Trophy hunting is allowed at 6 African countries.
Role in the ecosystem
Lions are the top predators in their territory. It is not yet clear how lions regulate the populations of their prey. Some studies have shown that the distribution of potential prey over a given area plays a more significant role in regulating animal populations than in lion nutrition.
Economic significance for humans
Positive
Leos have a glamorous appearance and are well known throughout the world. The lion is a symbol of England and is considered one of the most highly valued animal species providing economic benefits to ecotourism in Africa. These cats are the subjects of many documentary and scientific research works.
Negative
People are afraid of lion attacks both on themselves and on their livestock. In most cases, this is not a big problem. Historically, lions coexisted with the Maasai tribes and their cows in eastern Africa. When food supply is abundant, lions usually do not attack livestock. In addition, if a lion sees a person walking, as a rule, he changes his direction in the opposite direction.
There are known cases of lions attacking humans. For example, man-eating lions from Tsavo killed 135 construction workers. These events became the basis for the historical adventure film “The Ghost and the Darkness” by Stephen Hopkins. As lions lose their habitats, they are more likely to enter populated areas, creating new conflicts and potential attacks on people.
Feline viral immunodeficiency is common in lions (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, FIV), which is similar to HIV. In Tanzania's Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks, as well as in Kruger National Park, South Africa, 92% of lions tested were infected. This disease does not have a negative impact on the health of animals, but for domestic cats it can be fatal.
Security status
Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) and cape lion (Panthera leo melanochaita) are two extinct subspecies of the African lion. The African lion population has declined significantly in numbers in West Africa and other African countries. If there are no corridors between reserves, this will most likely become a problem.
Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) limited to one population, they live in the Gir Forest Reserve of India. The population size is about 200 mature individuals. This subspecies is listed as endangered. The Asiatic lion population is in dire need of recovery. Threats to the inhabitants of the Gir Forest come from humans and livestock in the immediate vicinity, as well as from habitat degradation.
Some small populations of lions require genetic control for continued survival and conservation of the species. For example, in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Natal, there are 120 individuals that have been bred from just three lions since 1960. In 2001, scientists used artificial insemination techniques to rejuvenate the gene pool of these South African lions. This process is quite complex and energy-intensive. Inbred populations could also be introduced into entire prides within a given area (thus minimizing conflict between existing and introduced lions).
Subspecies
Asiatic lion
Asiatic lion (Pantheraleopersica), also known as the Indian lion or Persian lion, is the only subspecies native to India, in the state of Gujarat. This subspecies is listed on the IUCN Red List due to its small population. The number of lions in the Gir forest is growing steadily. The number of individuals has more than doubled, from a minimum of 180 in 1974 to 411 individuals as of April 2010. Of these: 97 adult males, 162 adult females, 75 juveniles and 77 cubs.
For the first time, the Asiatic lion was described by the Austrian zoologist Johann N. Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo persicus. The Asiatic lion is one of the five large cat species, such as the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Snow Leopard and clouded leopard, found in India. Previously, the Asiatic lion lived in the territory of Persia, Israel, Mesopotamia, Baluchistan, from Sindh in the west and Bengal in the east, from Rampur and Rohilkhand in the north to Nerbuddha in the south. It differs from the African lion in having less swollen auditory capsules, a larger brush at the end of the tail and a less developed mane.
The most striking external difference is the longitudinal fold on the abdomen. Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions. Adult males weigh from 160 to 190 kg, and females - 110-120 kg. Height at withers is about 110 centimeters. The length of the body of an Asiatic lion, including the tail, is on average 2.92 m. The mane of males grows on the top of the head, so their ears are always visible. In small quantities, the mane is observed on the cheeks and neck, the length in these places is only 10 cm. About half of the Asiatic lions from the Gir forest have a divided infraorbital foramen, while the African ones have only one foramen on both sides. The sagittal crest of Asiatic lions is more developed than that of African lions. The length of the skull of males varies from 330 to 340 mm, in females from 292 to 302 mm. Compared to the African lion population, the Asiatic lion has less genetic variation.
Barbary lion
Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo), sometimes referred to as the Atlas lion, was part of the African lion population, thought to have become extinct in the wild beginning in the mid-20th century. The last wild Barbary lions are believed to have died or been killed in the 1950s and early 1960s. The last video recordings of the Barbary lion date back to 1942. Filming took place in the western Maghreb, near the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
The Barbary lion was first described by the Austrian zoologist Johann Nepomuk Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo barbaricus, based on a typical representative of the Barbary subspecies.
The Barbary lion has long been considered one of the most large representatives Lviv Museum specimens of male Barbary lions are described as having dark, long-haired manes that extended to the shoulder and belly areas. The body length of males ranged from 2.35-2.8 m, and females - about 2.5 m. In the 19th century, a hunter described a large male, allegedly reaching a length of 3.25 meters, including a 75-centimeter tail. In some historical sources, the weight of wild males was indicated as 270-300 kg. But the accuracy of these measurements can be questioned, and the sample sizes of captive Barbary lions are too small to conclude that they were the largest subspecies of lions.
Before it was possible to study the genetic diversity of the lion population, the distinctive color and size of the mane was considered a compelling reason to classify these big cats as a separate subspecies. Long-term studies of lions in the Serengeti National Park show that various factors, such as environmental temperature, diet and testosterone levels, have a direct impact on a lion's coloration and mane size.
Barbary lions may have long-haired manes due to the ambient temperature in the Atlas Mountains, which is much cooler than other African regions, especially during winter. Thus, the length and thickness of the mane is not considered as adequate evidence of the lion's ancestry. Mitochondrial DNA results published in 2006 contributed to the identification of unique Barbary lion haplotypes found in museum specimens that are believed to be descended from Barbary lions. The presence of this haplotype is considered a reliable molecular marker for identifying Barbary lions surviving in captivity.
Lions from western and central Africa are believed to be smaller in size than lions from southern Africa. There are also suggestions that they have smaller manes, live in small groups and have a distinctive skull shape. In where West African lions live, almost all males do not have manes or they are weakly defined.
The West African lion is distributed in western Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Central African Republic in the east.
Lions are rare in western Africa and may be endangered. In 2004, the population of West African lions numbered 450-1300 individuals. Additionally, there were approximately 550-1550 lions in Central Africa. In both regions, the area historically occupied by lions decreased by 15% in 2004.
A recent study, which took place between 2006 and 2012, found that lion numbers declined even further in West Africa. Only about 400 individuals remain in the area between Senegal and Nigeria.
Congo lion, or northeastern Congo lion, or northern Congo lion (Panthera leo azandica), also known as the Ugandan lion, has been proposed as a subspecies from northeastern Belgian Congo and western Uganda.
In 1924, American zoologist Joel Azaf Allen introduced the trinomen Leo leo azandicus, which described a specimen of a male lion as a typical representative of the subspecies, which was kept in the American Museum of Natural History. This male was killed in 1912 by museum staff as part of the zoological collection, which consisted of 588 carnivores. Allen admitted a close relationship with the Massai lion (Panthera leo nubica), which is expressed in the similarity of cranial and dental characteristics, but noted with assertion that his typical specimen differed in coat color.
Congolese lions have been tentatively discovered in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, western Uganda, southeastern Central African Republic, including parts of South Sudan. Previously they lived in Rwanda. They are the largest apex predators on the savannas, where lions hunt and feed on zebras and antelopes. They can also be found in meadows and forests.
Like other African lions, the population of the Congo lion is currently in rapid decline due to habitat loss and a decrease in potential prey.
Northeast Congo lions live in various national parks in the Belgian Congo, Uganda, such as Kabarega, Virunga and National Park Queen Elizabeth. Previously lived in the national parks of Rwanda until they died from poison during the genocide and after it.
Masai lion or East African lion (Panthera leo nubica), a subspecies of lions that lives in eastern Africa. A typical sample is described as "Nubian". This subspecies includes the previously recognized subspecies" massaica", which originally lived in Tanganyika, East Africa.
Oscar Rudolf Neumann first described the Massai lion as an animal with a less round muzzle, with long legs and less flexible backs than other subspecies. Males have moderate tufts of hair on knee joints, and their manes look like they are combed back.
Males of the East African lion, as a rule, have a body length including tail of 2.5-3.0 m. Lionesses are usually smaller, only 2.3-2.6 m. The weight of males is 145-205 kg, and females - 100-165 kg. Lions, regardless of gender, have a height at the withers of 0.9-1.10 m.
Male Masai lions have a wide range of mane types. Mane growth is directly related to age: older males have wider manes than males younger age; manes grow until they reach the age of 4-5 years, then lions reach sexual maturity. Males that live at altitudes above 800 meters have more massive manes than individuals living in the warm and humid lowlands of eastern and northern Kenya. Such lions have scantier manes or no manes at all.
This subspecies is relatively common and well protected in large protected areas such as the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
Southwestern lions are one of the largest subspecies. Males have a body length of 2.5-3.1 m including tail, and females - 2.3-2.65 m. The weight of males is 140-242 kg, and females - 105-170 kg. The height at the withers is 0.9-1.2 m.
Like all African lions, Katangese lions hunt mainly large animals such as warthogs, zebras, and wildebeest. Males tend to have lighter manes than other lion subspecies.
There is a small population of these lions in captivity. 29 lions from this subspecies are registered in the International Species Information System. Southwestern lions are descended from animals that were captured in Angola and Zimbabwe. However, the purity of the bloodline of these captive lions cannot be confirmed. Genetic analysis suggests they may be descended from lions from West or Central Africa.
Males, as a rule, have a well-developed mane. Most of them have it black. The body length of males varies between 2.6-3.2 m, and females - 2.35-2.75 m. The weight of males reaches 15-250 kg, and females - 110-182 kg. Height at withers – 1.92-1.23 m.
White lions have a rare color mutation and belong to the Transvaal lions. Leucism occurs only in these lions, but quite rarely. They live in several nature reserves and zoos around the world.
According to recent genetic studies, the extinct Cape lion, previously classified as a separate subspecies, was not significantly different from the South African subspecies. The Cape lion therefore represented the southern population of the Transvaal lion.
More than 2000 individuals of this subspecies have good protection in the Kruger National Park. In addition, about 1000 lions are registered in the International Species Information System. These animals are descendants of lions captured in South Africa.
As with the Barbary lion, there is a lot of confusion about the dark-colored manes of captive animals. The dark mane is the result of breeding and crossbreeding of lions long ago captured in Africa. The mixing of subspecies promoted hybridization, so most modern lions in captivity have mixed alleles from representatives of different subspecies.
Early authors justified the identification of a separate subspecies by the presence of a fixed morphology in animals. Males had a huge mane extending beyond the shoulders and covering the belly and ears, as well as distinctive black tufts. However, it has now been proven that such external characteristics depend on ambient temperature and other factors. Mitochondrial DNA results published in 2006 do not support the recognition of a separate subspecies.
Cape lions preferred to hunt large ungulates such as antelope, zebra, giraffe and buffalo. They also killed donkeys and livestock belonging to European settlers. Man-eaters, as a rule, were old lions with bad teeth.
Cape black-maned lions lived in southern Africa, but since they were not the only representatives of lions in the southern territories, the exact range of habitat is difficult to determine. Their stronghold was the Cape Province, near Cape Town. One of the last representatives living in the province was killed in 1858, and in 1876, Czech explorer Emil Holub bought a young lion, which died two years later.
The Cape lion disappeared so quickly after European contact that habitat destruction can hardly be considered a significant factor. Dutch and English settlers, hunters and athletes simply destroyed lions.