Lioness Lion
Photo's courtesy of Alan Morton, wildlife photographer
Lion
Shoulder height: 91 - 100 cm
Mass: Males: 181 to 227 kg
Females: 113 - 136 kg
Gestation: 100 - 119 days
Life span: It could be up to 20 years - more in captivity
Duration of life: In captivity 20 years, much less in their natural environment
Ahh, Lion - so much can be written about this magnificent animal. What do they eat? Well, now, Lions are not fussy and will eat virtually anything, although they show a definite preference for larger prey. During a severe draught in Kruger National Park in 1964 a pride of lions killed 5 adults and 10 young buffalo in one spot near a camp called Punda Maria. These animals were from a starving herd. When prey is scarce, they will not hesitate to eat putrit meat if it is available. Daily consumption for a healthy fully grown lion in the wild could be 7 kg of meat a day, and about 5 kg for the female.
Their sense of smell is good. Hearing and sight are excellent, although they find stationary animals difficult to find. Lions can climb trees and yes they can swim.
Males and females roar very similarly. The male roar, however, is deeper and louder. A lion roar can be heard of up to 8 kilometres depending on the humidity of the air and denseness of the vegetation. Cubs start to imitate the roar sounds their parents make at the age of about one month. The roar and other sounds the lion makes are a very impressive variety of moans, grunts, snarls, growls and roars. Cubs also purr. Grunts are used by the females to call their cubs. The roar is a means of communication with members of a pride or warning other lions that the area is occupied. Lions communicate with facial expressions as well as body movements.
Lions way of marking their territory is by spraying urine, whilst scraping the soil with their paws to supplement the former.
Who is more aggressive the male or female? The females fight each other more than males do. Rubbing serves as a safety measure to avoid fatal fights. By rolling over on its back, aggression from a stronger opponent can then be avoided.
Females do not secure food for their cubs. The cubs suckle for about three to four months. As soon as the cubs can walk properly, the mother will lead them to kills. Should a cub persist in trying to feed with her, she may kill it. Females attack cubs much more than they would other females. Although the mother will defend her cub or cubs ferociously against other predators or human beings.
Who or what are the lions enemies? Large crocodiles can kill a lion and again of course - man.
Sounds of the Lion
Lion 1 Lion 2
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