African lion. white lion animal

Representatives of the cat family. An impressive magnificent mane, a ferocious roar, a muscular huge body, a stranglehold - all this very much characterizes the powerful and strong king of the jungle. In the people of lions it is customary to call 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 females 150 kg. The body length of the animal is from 2.3 m to 3.0 m.

Lion habitats

In the Middle Ages, the lion was much more extensive - the entire territory of Africa, excluding the tropics and the desert, the Middle East, Iran, part of Europe, even the southern outskirts of Russia, India. But the hunt for lion skins, wars, destroyed the predator's familiar environment. Lions have lost most of their range. In 1944, the last lion in Europe was found in Iran - he was dead.

Now in Africa, lions occupy the territory south of the famous Sahara desert. Here, in unlimited conditions of existence, animals feel more than comfortable, which contributes to their reproduction. Despite this, the population of lions is rapidly decreasing every year.

About 80% of all lions in the world live on the hottest continent of the planet - in Africa.

In India, the kings of the jungle occupy a territory in the West of the country with an area of ​​1400 sq. km. They settled 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 the lions and do everything to prevent the decline in the wild cat population. And this played a positive role: according to the latest data, the size of the group began to slowly grow.

Savannah is considered a favorite place where lions prefer to live, but often they settle in areas with an abundance of shrubs, in forests. Important for lions is the presence in the settlement area of ​​a special type of acacia. It is this plant that protects flocks from the scorching sun, and also saves from heat and sunstroke. Lions do not live in dense moist forests and waterless deserts.

In the hall, on the wall, we have a large painting depicting a lion. 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. One of his luxurious mane is worth something. It even looks like 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 customary to call them prides. The life of lions in prides takes place according to certain rules:

• always in pride several females are present;
• there is a fixed 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. Yes, and it does not appear immediately. A full-fledged mane in a lion is formed only for the 6th year of life.

Lions in the wild only found in Africa and India. Most of them live in Africa. Lions prefer to settle in the savannas, where a special type of acacia grows, which helps them hide from the heat and the scorching sun.

In Africa, lions can be found almost anywhere below the Sahara. In India, these predators remained only in the western part. This area is called Gir forest. There are already very few lions left here, so they are trying to save them by all means.

Lions in captivity

Lions live not only in the wild. You can often find them in a zoo, 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 are very willing to live and easily bring offspring. Most importantly, stick to content rules:

• good nutrition;
• lack of sources of irritation for an animal;
• compliance with security measures.

It is not at all difficult to keep such a predator, so in almost any zoo you can see an aviary with a lion. Even in the cold, this animal feels comfortable, as in the places of their permanent habitat at night the air temperature drops sharply.

Even small children know that the lion is the king of animals. Why the predator was awarded such a title, many probably wondered. According to the researchers, these big cats are not the fastest and most agile and, no offense to royalty, they are not the smartest among predators. True, only they can, after a successful hunt, make a victorious roar, from which all life in the vicinity freezes. But even this cannot be a reason for receiving such a high rank.

There are many factors confirming that this powerful predator is the king of beasts. In this article, we will introduce you to them.

Description of a predatory cat

To understand why the lion is the king of beasts, let's pay attention to its appearance. Probably, no one will dispute the fact that the look of this predator is really regal, especially in a young, full of strength animal. His black-brown or fiery red mane gives him royal majesty. Yes, and the voice of a lion, no one doubts its belonging. On a quiet night, his roar causes awe in everyone who hears him even eight kilometers from the location of the king of beasts.

External Features

The lion is an animal with a flexible, very strong, agile and muscular body. The Predator is an excellent runner. This is a beautiful large cat with well-developed muscles of the front paws, with which it holds the prey, and the neck. The lion, as befits the king of animals, is one of the largest predators on our planet. An African male on average weighs about one hundred and sixty kilograms, and reaches a length of two and a half meters. In 1936, in South Africa, hunters shot a lion weighing 313 kilograms.

The description of the lion in various sources suggests that the main deadly weapon of the lion is its powerful jaws with huge fangs. The lion's grip is extremely strong with only one tooth. It easily holds even such large animals as, for example, wildebeest. The tongue of the lion is rough, covered with tubercles, which are sharp spikes that help the predator to tear off pieces of meat, tearing the prey apart. They also help the animal to remove ticks from the skin and catch fleas when he cares for the skin.

Lion hybrids

In nature, animals of each species are looking for a partner of their species to continue the genus. But sometimes this well-established system fails, and hybrids are born. In our case, these are animals obtained from crossing a lion and a tiger. Depending on what species the parents belong to, the name of the offspring is also determined: if the father is a lion, then the cub is called a liger, if the mother is a lioness, then the baby is called a tiger.

The characteristics of hybrids differ significantly. For example, tigers are usually much smaller than their parents. And ligers are especially large in size, like, for example, the Hercules liger, who lives at the Institute of Protected and Rare Species (Miami). Its length reaches three meters.

Most often, hybrids are infertile, but scientists note an interesting fact: in such hybrids, only males remain infertile, but females rarely, but bring offspring. Very rare hybrids of the second level. This is due to the rare cases when ligers (females) or tigers retain the ability to reproduce. It is they who give offspring with the participation of tigers or lions.

white lions

These are not hybrids, but animals with reduced melanin production. The reason for this very rare phenomenon is a recessive gene. As a result of its exposure, a very light color appears, which can vary from creamy beige to white. In some white lions, some parts of the body are painted in this color, and others in cream, there are individuals with an even white-cream color.

Often, white lions, which are often described in specialized literature, have blue eyes (which is also due to low levels of melanin). Today, the planet is inhabited by only about three hundred white individuals. Special programs for the conservation of these animals have been developed. The lions themselves with this color, living in the wild, have a hard time: this color unmasks them, complicating the hunt.

Range and habitats

The lion is an animal distributed on two continents: in Asia and Africa, where their distribution area is located south of the Sahara desert. In Asia, lions live in the Gir Forest (Indian state of Gujarat). The habitats of lions are mainly savannas, but they are found in forests and dense shrubs.

How long do lions live?

The lifespan of a predator depends on various factors. Under natural conditions, despite their ferocious appearance, strength and dexterity, these huge cats face many dangers, hunting injuries, injuries, which by no means prolong the life of a predator. These are life-and-death skirmishes with strangers for territories, and attacks by other no less aggressive and dangerous predators. The animal is seriously injured during the lion's hunt for large animals (buffalo, for example).

But as before, the biggest problem for the lion is poachers. Therefore, in the wild, lions live on average for about 10 years, centenarians reaching the age of fourteen are much less common. It should be noted that in the wild, lionesses live two to three years longer than males. This is probably due to the fact that lionesses do not participate in skirmishes with strangers in the struggle for territory.

Lifespan in captivity

Since the end of the 18th century, people have been trying to save these beautiful animals from extinction, trying to keep them in reserves where predatory cats live and breed normally. How long do lions live in captivity? Their life expectancy is significantly increased: in reserves and zoos, predators live up to 20 and even up to 25 years, subject to proper care and supervision of veterinarians.

Lifestyle

None of the predators, except for lions, has such an organization of coexistence. Perhaps this explains why the lion is the king of beasts. A pride is a rather large group of animals, in which, as a rule, there are several females with offspring and one or two males. Sometimes there are prides consisting of only females, but most often this indicates that the male has died, and soon a young leader will take his place.

Sometimes a full-fledged lion pride has up to forty animals, but more often they are much smaller. It has an average of fifteen to eighteen animals. The lifestyle of a lion is measured and unhurried. In the hot hours of the day, after a meal, all family members gather in one place and rest.

The lion pride is a unique structure from which everyone wins: the males are fed, the females are protected. As a true master, the lion competently rules in his possessions. All animals living in the territory of the pride belong to the king of beasts. But here it should be emphasized that lions never kill extra animals, "for the future." They know perfectly well how much food is required to feed a family.

The role of females in the pride

In the family, females decide where, how and whom to hunt, although they rarely act together. The only exception is hunting for large prey, when females attack in pairs. Interestingly, unlike many animals, female lions get along well with other females, often looking after their neighbor's "children" as if they were their own.

If for some reason the female cannot hunt (for example, due to an injury), then in the pride she is taken care of and allowed to eat together. Animals act much harder with aged and sick lions: the pride refuses them. The family not only does not protect them, but also expels them. A decrepit, weak and skinny lion often becomes an easy prey for hyenas.

The lion rules a little. As a rule, the period of his stay on the “throne” is no more than three years, after which he is “overthrown”, like a real king, by a stronger and younger male. The next head of the pride is the lion, which is not a blood relative of the females. All pride females are sisters. Males are strangers. They come to the family from other prides. So nature took care of preventing the degradation of predators and incest.

Relationships in the pride

A strict hierarchy reigns in the lion family, which is inherent in the minds of animals at the level of instinct - a well-fed leader is a kind and reliable protector. For this reason, the head of the pride, the adult lion, is the first to start the meal. Until he finishes it, no one can even get close to the prey. For disobedience, the violator will face severe punishment: he can be expelled from the family.

Having had their fill, the lions play with the babies. I must say that they are very patient with lion cubs, sometimes they even show amazing tenderness. However, the main process of education goes to females. They all feed their young together. Not a single female will ever refuse a baby milk if his mother went hunting.

reproduction

During the mating season, the king of beasts is especially gentle with his chosen one. The leader lion mates with a female who is in heat. During mating, the lion bites the lioness on the scruff of the neck, which is common to all cats. Three and a half months later, the pregnant lioness leaves the pride, finds a secluded, usually grassy corner, in which the offspring are born.

Lion cubs are born helpless and blind. Their skin is covered with spots that disappear over time. In most cases, no more than half of the cubs survive. Babies are breastfed until they are six months old. Then their diet consists only of meat.

raising lion cubs

Young lions are also taught to hunt by females. When the cubs reach the age of three months, they go hunting with their mothers. At first, they completely copy the actions of experienced hunters - they learn to sneak up and hide unnoticed, repeat the movements that their mothers make when attacking prey. And already at six months, teenage lions hunt on their own, getting food for the entire pride.

However, babies are always in danger: they can become the prey of strangers. In addition, if the old leader is defeated, the new one can kill the cubs, seizing the right moment when their mothers are on the hunt. Thus, the new leader achieves the location of the females. The fact is that after the death of the offspring, literally the next day, the lioness is ready for mating.

Sometimes difficult situations arise in the family. As a rule, this happens when the lions guarding the pride leave in search of new territories for the family. At this time, lionesses with cubs have to survive on their own, earning their own food. When it becomes especially difficult, exhausted females begin to howl plaintively, calling males for help. And a miracle happens - the males return to the pride and help get food.

In the animal world, the lion pride is the only example of such a relationship between related individuals. Only lions manage to create such a system of mutual assistance and support that does not suppress each other.

It seems to us that it is quite obvious why the lion is the king of beasts. He confirms his title with his majestic appearance, behavior, and advantage in strength and power over most predators. So far, no other animal in the world has claimed this high title.

How many years do lions live? To understand this issue, you need to understand what this predator is, in what conditions it exists, and also on what factors the duration of its life depends.

King of beasts

The lion is a large feline mammal. Everyone knows that this predator is called To understand why the ancient peoples called it that, it is enough to look at how this animal lies. The lion always retains a powerful, one would like to say - regal, posture. A chic mane makes his appearance even more majestic.

The weight of the male is about 200 kilograms, it reaches a length of 2.8 m (by the way, as many as 90 centimeters fall on a beautiful tail). The lionesses are slightly smaller. Their weight is 140 kilograms, and the body length reaches 2.5 meters. Females, unlike males, do not have a mane.

A lion can knock down a zebra weighing about three hundred kilograms with one stroke of its paw (!) It cannot be said that the ones we are considering are good jumpers.

Habits and habits

Lions live and hunt in packs (another name is pride). Predators feed on zebras, giraffes, rodents, hares and antelopes, it happens that they sometimes eat carrion. On rare occasions, lions attack buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos. Moreover, they hunt, as a rule, and lions guard the prey. It is not uncommon for these wild cats to take food from small predators.

After the "meal" the lions rest in the shade or on the branches. Yes, they are great at climbing trees! Thanks to their claws, they can climb to a height of about six meters. Note that lions are still dormice! The duration of their sleep is more than twenty hours a day. But even when the male sleeps, he hears everything. necessary to save the offspring and the lioness.

These predators may not drink for a long period, since the liquid contained in the eaten animal is enough for them. At a time, one such animal is able to eat up to forty kilograms of meat, then it will wait a week until the food is digested, and then you can go hunting again. Of course, in this situation, one should not be surprised to hear that lions can go without food for a long time.

Scientists have concluded that a lion's age is fifteen, but this is not always the case. Unfortunately, many predators die much earlier.

At the age of two, they enter puberty. Mating takes place all 12 months of the year. Pregnancy of the female lasts 110 days. In one offspring, from two to five cubs are born. The female can bring offspring every two years. It happens that the lioness does not let the male near the cubs, as she fears for their lives.

The cubs spend the first three months of their lives only with their mother, away from the group. When a cub is born, it resembles a domestic cat in size. A reliable camouflage for babies is spotted wool. Young mothers very often unite, organizing a kind of nursery, where they collect all their offspring. Having given the cubs under the care of one lioness, the rest of the mothers can safely hunt, knowing that the babies are protected. Grown up lion cubs are already taken with them to hunt, in order to teach them to track down prey, and then kill. At two or three years, males already grow a mane. This is the time when the strongest kicks the weaker ones out of the pack. At the age of five, a lone lion tries to create his own pride.

Specifically about age

So, the lion ... How long does this proud handsome man live? Its life expectancy depends on many factors. For example, how many years do lions live in the wild? In the wild, these predators face a lot of dangers, but their main enemy is man. Due to the raids of hyenas and poachers, as well as due to adverse conditions, the life expectancy of a lion in natural conditions is small - about eight years. But this time is enough to mature, as well as leave offspring.

Note that females live several years longer. Probably due to the fact that they do not have to defend the territory in the fight against strangers.

Life in the reserves

How many years do lions live in reserves? In this zone, their life is longer, since the animals are protected from poachers. Here predators live up to fourteen years, which is almost twice as long as in the wild.

How long do lions live in a zoo?

Almost all zoos have created ideal conditions for big cats (if we talk about safety). In such places, lions live for more than twenty years, being under the close attention of workers and veterinarians. There was a long-lived lion in Germany, he lived in the zoo until he was 29 years old.

So we got to know these noble animals better. And if your child, after watching the cartoon about Simba once again, takes an interest in the life expectancy of these representatives, you will surely be able to tell the baby how long lions live in the wild, in the zoo and reserve.

The lion (Latin name - Panthera Leo) is a feline mammal and is one of the four "big cats" of the Panthera genus (the black panther in the photo is its relative). The lion is the second largest cat, after the tiger. Lions are unique in that they are the only cats that live in groups (prides).

Although lions once inhabited much of Africa, Asia, and Europe, they are now only found in the wild in Africa and the Gir Forest in India (in the Sasan Gir National Park). The main habitats of lions are woodlands, savannahs and grassy plains.

Characteristics and detailed description of the lion

Male lions are the only cats with manes.. The mane gives the lion a regal appearance, earning him the title of "king of the beasts". The mane of the male lion is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the species. She makes the lion's head visually larger, perfectly demonstrating a frightening look. This helps the lion in clashes with other lions and with the lion's main competitor in Africa, the spotted hyena.

Male lions weigh 150 to 225 kg (330-500 lb), females range from 120 to 150 kg (260-330 lb). The length of the tail of lions is 70-100 centimeters (2 ft 3 in - 3 ft 3 in). The rear end of the tail ends in a hairy tuft. This bundle hides the tip of the spine, about 5 mm long, which consists of the bones of the last section of the tail fused together. The lion is the only feline to have a tail tuft, the function of this tuft is unknown. At birth, it is absent, it begins to develop only at the age of 5 months, and at 7 months it becomes clearly visible. In the wild, lions live for about 10 - 14 years, while in captivity they can live for over 20 years.

What do lions eat and who do they hunt?

Lions are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Under natural conditions, lions usually prey on wildebeest, zebras and various ungulates (giraffes, buffaloes and gazelles). Sometimes lions even prey on young elephants, rhinos and hippos. Lions can also take prey from hyenas and other predators. Lions are known to be picky eaters and also eat rodents, small birds, hares and reptiles.

Lions, chasing their prey, can travel the length of a football field in just six seconds. The eyes of a lion have reflective cells that magnify the image several times and allow you to carefully monitor your prey even in the dark.

At the zoo, the diet of lions consists of specially prepared cat food, consisting of chicken (an interesting story about a chicken), rabbits (such as in this photo), lamb and horse meat.

How do lions live in a pride and what do they do

Lions mostly become active at dusk and at night. Lions spend most of their time resting, often up to 20 hours a day. This happens for many different reasons, including to conserve energy, survive heat waves and periods of lack of prey.

During periods of rest, lions have ample opportunities for communication. They gather and sleep in groups, rub their heads together, play together. All this is favorable for strengthening their social ties.

Living in a group allows lions to hunt together. Lionesses from the same pride may surround potential prey to attack it from different directions. Generally, for hunting, lions choose tracking tactics, because for a long pursuit they are not so hardy.

When hunting, lions usually give up the chase for 45-100 meters (50-110 yd). Lions suffocate their victims, and larger prey are pressed to the ground with their necks to cut off their breath. This predator may also place its paw on the nose, mouth, or throat of prey. The lion easily captures small prey with one wave of one of its massive paws.

Despite their enormous strength and agility, lions are not always able to succeed in attacks on prey. If the failed victim runs away, they wait for a new one. In the animal kingdom, there are more effective hunters who catch prey more gracefully - these are dragonflies.

Lion breeding and their cubs

Lionesses are able to bring offspring several times a year. However, an adult female lion does not produce another litter until her cubs are about 2 years old. But if the entire litter dies, she will mate again shortly after the death of the last cub.

The gestation period for lionesses is 110 to 119 days.. A litter has an average of 3 to 6 cubs. Cubs are usually born in a secluded area, and when they reach 4-6 weeks old, they are assigned to a kindergarten introduced in the prides.

When a new male enters the pride, he can kill newborn lion cubs, so the females mate with him to produce his own cubs. Young cubs begin to participate in pride hunting at 11 months, although they are not able to survive on their own until about 30 months of age.

Infant mortality among lions is very high, the percentage of cubs surviving after the first year of life is less than 50%. Hierarchy is strictly observed in the lion pack. The male lions feed first, then the lionesses, and finally the cubs. In a pride, it often happens that prey is killed once every 3-5 days, so many cubs die of starvation. Nonetheless, a cub is more likely to survive birth in a pride than if a lioness with a cub by itself.

conservation status

As usual, when we talk about a particular animal on our site about animals, we end the article with the "Conservation status" section. The number of lions is rapidly decreasing, according to various estimates, the number of individuals living in the wild is from 16,000 to 30,000, compared with about 100,000 in the early 1990s. It is also dangerous for the species that lion populations are often geographically isolated from each other, which leads to such a phenomenon as inbreeding (inbreeding).