DID YOU KNOW?
The Lion,
Renowned for its majesty and nicknamed "the king of the jungle," the
lion possesses both beauty and strength. Lions vary in color but typically
sport light yellow-brown coats. Mature male lions are unique among big cats due
the thick brown or black manes that encircle their necks and protect them while
fighting.
Lions
consume a wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to sometimes rhinos
and hippos. They will also feed on smaller animals such as hares, birds and
reptiles. Lions are also known to attack elephant when food is scarce.
Though lions used to live in most parts of Africa, they are now found only in the south Sahara desert and in parts of southern and eastern Africa. Historically, in addition to Africa, lions were found from Greece through the Middle East to northern India.
The
only social member of the cat (Felidae) family, lions live in large groups
called "prides," consisting of about 15 lions. Related females and
their young make up the majority of the pride. A single male, or sometimes a
small group of 2-3 males, will join a pride for an indefinite period, usually
about 3 years or until another group of males takes over.
Lions
within a pride are often affectionate and, when resting, seem to enjoy good
fellowship with lots of touching, head rubbing, licking and purring. The males
are territorial, and will roar and use scent markings to establish their
domains.
Females
do almost all of the hunting. They are mainly nocturnal and work in teams to
stalk and ambush prey. Lions inhabit grassy plains, Savannah, open woodlands and
scrub country. These landscapes allow the hunters to creep stealthily through
vegetation and leap upon their unsuspecting prey.
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