African Lion
Panthera Leo

African lions have been admired throughout history as symbols of courage and strength, and nothing says “Africa” like a lion. But African lions do not live in the jungle; they are found almost exclusively in grassy plains, savannas and woodlands. They are stealth hunters, so they need open areas to see and stalk their prey from a distance. They usually hunt at dawn or dusk to avoid exertion during the heat of the day, but they also hunt at night and during storms to take advantage of darkness and noise when stalking prey. They will, however, take advantage of any opportunity to catch prey regardless of the time of day. Lions don’t need much water, usually getting enough from the meat they eat, but they will often live near a water source because they know their favorite prey species will visit for a drink.

Of the “big cats” in the world, only Amur and Bengal tigers regularly grow larger than lions. Lions have muscular, strong, compact bodies and powerful forelegs, teeth, and jaws for pulling down, killing and dragging prey. They also scavenge food from leopards, hyenas and other predators. They typically hunt once or twice a week. Males rarely hunt. Females coordinate to stalk and kill prey while males rest and watch. Even so, adult males usually eat first.

While most cats are solitary, lions live in groups called prides. Prides consist of three to 40 individuals, mostly related females, as female cubs stay with the pride into which they were born for life. Most prides also include up to four males whose job is to defend and protect the pride from other males. The lionesses jointly raise and feed the cubs. Lions are also affectionate. They spend much of their day resting, rubbing heads and licking each other. This affection is often accompanied by low-pitched grunts, gentle moans and huffing and puffing. Lions can also be quite loud. A male lion’s roar can be heard for up to five miles.

Diet: mammals, small animals, carrion