These big cats have inspired all mankind respect for themselves since ancient times, subduing our imagination. Did you recognize them? Of course, these are African lions. We honor these animals, endow them with the best human qualities: courage, nobility, loy alty and power. But folklore is folklore, and do not forget that lions are dangerous predatory cats capable of anything for profit. How do they behave in the wild? Let's find out!
Undisputed Master of Beasts
Why are African lions endowed with "royal" powers and are considered leaders among all modern land animals? First, they have a rather regal appearance. Secondly, at the word "lion" in our imagination, first of all, a large maned cat in the prime of life appears in our imagination. Thirdly, the unique black-brown or dark golden mane of a lion cannot be taken seriously, because it is precisely this that gives him the greatness of a monarch!
Not less thanthese majestic beasts have an impressive voice. For example, on a quiet night, a lion's roar terrifies everyone who hears it at a distance of up to 8 kilometers. African lions show many royal qualities in their behavior. In the ordinary state, these predators are majestically sociable and good-natured, except when they protect their prey or their family. Nevertheless, some scientists doubt the vaunted nobility of these animals: males quite often take prey from their own females and gorge themselves on it.
Where do African lions live?
As their name implies, these predators inhabit mainly the savannahs of Africa, but can also move into the bush or even into the forests. Once they inhabited the territory of Europe, the Middle and Near East, as well as India. Unfortunately, the development of animal husbandry in the world contributed to the reduction in the population of these animals, which, in turn, pushed them exclusively to the South. Currently, these animals trample the lands of Africa south of the Sahara desert, and in India they are kept in the Garsky Forest reserve.
The second largest after the tiger
The African lion is a predatory mammal, one of four representatives of the genus of large cats called panthers. It is the second largest modern wild cat after the tiger. The mass of some lions can reach 250 kilograms, and the length is 3 meters. As a rule, females are an order of magnitude smaller than males: their body length does not exceed 2.2 meters, and their weight fluctuates around 140 kilograms.
Lions living in Africa arethe only cats that are easy to distinguish from each other in appearance and gender: lionesses do not have a mane. These truly majestic animals have great physical strength. For example, an adult lion can knock down a three-hundred-kilogram zebra with one stroke of its paw! Lions differ from other large cats in that they live in related groups of several males and females. Scientists call such communities prides.
How is their pride organized?
These African animals (lions and lionesses) are collective inhabitants. Usually their flock (pride) includes 2-3 males, as well as several lionesses with cubs. Each such family has its own leader. It does not have to be a large and strong animal. The main thing here is to be a leader by nature, then the rest of the pride males will recognize you and respect you. The leader, in turn, must be patient and good-natured to all members of the pride. Usually the number of one lion flock ranges from 5 to 40 animals.
Zoologists say that all lionesses within the same pride are related by family ties. They are each other's sisters, mothers, cousins, daughters, granddaughters, grandmothers. As a rule, lionesses born in a pack remain in it until the end, but if the group grows rapidly, then the pride can be divided into two parts. Females jointly take care of their offspring and others, protect their possessions, hunt and eat food together.
But not always in the lion family everything is sweet, but smooth. Not always supportive of their femalesAfrican lions. Soulless males can simply take away food from females and their own children until they get drunk enough themselves. The lion-leader does not protect the aged or sick members of the pride, but, on the contrary, drives them away from the pack. If the leader himself becomes decrepit and old, he will become food for the hyenas. Such is the difficult relationship they have. Who said the lion is a noble creature?
How do they hunt?
Production of food in the life of these predators, as in the life of any other animals, is of paramount importance. The responsibility for obtaining food within the pride is assigned to females, while males are responsible for the safety of their family, and also participate in procreation. Lionesses in the same flock hunt with their own group. Their prey is large ungulates, such as antelope. They obtain food in three different ways:
- African lion self-guided day hunt;
- taking food from other animals;
- eating carrion (already dead animals).
Lionesses usually hunt during the daytime, but when they are very hungry, they do it around the clock. During such a period, they attack not only large ungulates, but also hippos, birds, hares, mice, people … As soon as the lionesses notice the victim, they very quietly get closer to her, and then inflict a sudden and lightning strike. As soon as the prey is stunned, her relatives come to the aid of the lioness.
How long do lions live?
BIn nature, these predators, like ordinary cats, live from 10 to 15 years. In captivity, African lions (circus, zoo) live up to 25 years. As a rule, males in the wild rarely live up to at least 10 years. It is understandable: fierce fights with other lions leave their mark on it. As mentioned above, the number of these African predators is inevitably declining. Over the past 20 years, their population has declined by 40%.
Lion in human culture
No wonder the ancient Egyptians portrayed the lion as a symbol of divine power and royal dignity (remember the Sphinx?). The ancient Greeks and Assyrians generally saw in these majestic animals the companions of the goddesses. It is believed that in early Christian folklore and art, the lion could symbolize Jesus Christ himself. In the Middle Ages, these predators adorned the coats of arms of many houses belonging to monarchs and nobles.
