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Lion
photo: Tom Gillespie
Characteristics: Male lions reach 9-10 feet in length and can weigh over 500lbs. Females typically weigh 300lbs. or less. Male African lions are easily identified by their characteristic manes. The mane is thought to aid females in mate selection.
Lions emit a loud roar in the early morning hours and dusk that can be detected over 5 miles away. Roaring is used to locate pride members that have been temporarily separated and to signal their strength to adversaries.
Diet: While lions are excellent hunters, they also steal carrion from other grassland animals. Female lions work cooperatively to do most of the hunting. Males will join if prey is unusually large but typically they take the prey that females kill. Lions eat small prey and larger mammals such as wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and hippopotamus.
Reproduction: Litters consist of 2-4 cubs with an 80% mortality rate. Most cub deaths occur within the first year. Cubs are raised cooperatively by adult females and are weaned at six months. They become sexually mature after two years. Male lions typically have access to breeding females at age four.
Environmental Connections: The booming human population in Africa creates the largest threat to African lions. Habitat destruction and loss of prey species may continue to threaten lions in the future.
Many African tribes view lion hunting as a “rite of passage” and continue to kill lions for this ritual. Lions are also hunted as big game or trophy animals.
Lions need space-a commodity that is becoming rare in many parts of Africa. Human encroachment has reduced their range and resulted in more human-lion interactions. Many view lions as dangerous pests and they are shot to protect livestock or people. Researchers are currently surveying these attacks in an attempt to minimize conflicts between lions and humans.
Domesticated dogs have introduced diseases such as distemper to some lion populations. The lion population in Serengeti National Park was reduced by 1/3 in the years 1994-1997 because of distemper.
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N.C. Zoo is a member institution of AZA and an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr. Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor. A part of the North Carolina Government portal.
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