Lions Information :

Lions are different to other cats as they are the only cats to live in groups known as prides. The male lions are the only cats to have a mane. Lions vary in colour from nearly white to a deep brown ochre brown colour, tawny yellow is the most common colour.

Habitat:

Lions are found living in a variety of places such as woodland, the desert, but are not found in equatorial forests. 2000 years ago lions ranged from north Africa to south east Asia, west into Europe (where they became extinct) and east into India. Now there is not many lions they are only found in reserves and national parks.

Diet; Food and eating habbits:

A lions way of hunting is by ambush, they hunt large sized animals such as deer, zebra and antelope, but also they will scavenge for food from carcases or prey smaller animals have caught. Females tend to do most of the hunting in a pride. The biggest lioness will ambush they prey, which smaller lioness have lured into her path. Lions usually hunt at night. Lions can survive a long time without water, they get moisture from prey and plants.
 

Predators:

There are not many animals that would attack a lion, other than the hyena. A hyena can kill an injured lion for its prey or if food is scarce could attack a healthy lion. Lions and hyenas have been known to fight and kill for food.
 

Social Structure:

Lions live in prides, a pride can contain between 3-30 individuals. The reason for living in groups is to make hunting more successful, able to defend youngsters if at threat, its easier to defend territory in numbers and minimises the chance of getting no food at all. The lion is the only big cat that relies on group co-operation. Lionesses will sty with the group they were born into, making the group all sisters, aunts , mothers and grandmothers. Once a male reaches maturity its forced to leave and find a new pride. The males will leave in small groups with whom they hunt and scavenge for food whilst looking for a new pride. Male lions defend the pride from intruders. They mark the points of there territory with urine and patrol the boundaries regularly, using there roar to warn off other lions or unwanted guests. The competition for top male in a pride is fierce, leadership only lasting 2-3 years for most lions, Fights between competing males are very vicious and can result in death.
 

Birth, Offspring:

Females come into oestrus simultaneously and this means most of the cubs are born at the same time, each giving birth to 2-5 cubs. After a gestation period the cubs are cared for by all the females in the pride, Drinking milk from other females as well as there mother. A vast majority of lion cubs will die before reaching the age of 2 years. A new male in the pride will kill all the cubs ensuring hes the only father of cubs in the pride.
 

Attributes:

A lion is very strong, Fast and respected in the animal kingdom. It has been nicknamed the king of the beasts. They have huge claws and teeth both for fighting and hunting.