Today there are many stories and legends about the lifestyle of the king of beasts. But in order to distinguish truth from fiction regarding how and where lions live, you need to carefully understand the issue. Indeed, among the many animals of our planet, these predators stand out for their extraordinary strength and power. The majestic mane and deafening roar give the lion a truly royal look. And even in the behavior of this animal there are unique royal manners.
Serious Predator
Whether lions live in the wild or in captivity, they always remain themselves. These are huge strong predators, perfectly owning their mobile, flexible and muscular body. They are very fast and agile. These predatory cats have powerful jaws and large teeth that allow them to hold even such rather large representatives of the animal world as wildebeest. And with the help of claws, breaking prey into pieces is not a problem for lions at all. However, that's not all! It turns out that the tongue of the beast is studded with thorns, which allows him to take good care of his skin, catching fleas and removing ticks.
Of course, it depends on what continent the lion lives ona lot: his way of life, and the variety of food obtained, and even his appearance. Today, in the wild, this animal can be found in Africa and Asia. However, on the planet there is also the namesake of a land predator - the sea lion. And although their names are similar, the animals themselves are very, very different from each other, and it is completely impossible to confuse them.
Lifestyle
Lion is a feline that can stare at the sun without blinking. For this, they call him the king of animals. The way lions live, how they survive in natural conditions and in the fight against humans, deserves due respect and attention to them.
These predators live in families, the so-called prides. They usually consist of one or two males, several lionesses and cubs. Adult lions are busy protecting the pride's habitat, as cases of encroachment by lone males occur quite often. Lionesses are engaged in hunting and raising offspring. Lion cubs play and tumble all day, developing the agility and speed that they will need in the future. The average number of pride is about twenty individuals.
Lion's possessions extend over tens of square kilometers of open spaces, as well as areas covered with thickets.
It is very important that there are many ungulates in the possession of lions. After all, the abundance of food of predatory cats depends on their quantity.
Asian lion
Where live lions, which are called Asiatic, is not difficult to guess. Their habitats are located on the territory of the Gir forest innorthwestern part of India. This subspecies of the cat family is sometimes also called Indian, Bengal or Persian.
Asian lions are quite similar to their African relatives, but much inferior to them in size and body weight. In addition, the color of wool ranges from reddish-brown to gray and black.
Indian lions cover only 1,412 km22 and have no more than 359 individuals. These wild cats hunt in stunted forests alternating with fields. How many lions live in these territories is hard to say for sure. Now most of these lands are gradually being captured by people. The predators had to give up many of their hunting grounds.
Indian lion survival
Today, Indian lions have to share their territories not only with people, but also with other wild cats - Indian leopards and Bengal tigers. But several centuries ago they dominated right up to the very shores of Greece. There were cases of meetings of individual individuals even along the Don River. According to ancient legends, Prince Igor himself destroyed the last Bengal lion in Russia in the 10th century.
Back in 1907, there were only thirteen species of these animals left. But with incredible efforts, the man managed to save their lives in captivity. In a protected reserve where lions live today, experts are constantly fighting for the life of these animals.
African lions
African lions live in Central Africa. Their possessions include the territories of the savannas,containing huge vital watering holes. The main decoration of the males of these perfect animals is the mane covering the head, chest and neck. Their body length reaches 240 cm, and their weight is 230 kg. The height and weight of lionesses is slightly smaller. The coat of these wild cats is short and thick. Unlike their Asian relatives, their skin color ranges from light yellow to rich sandy. The manes of males are slightly darker than the main color.
Regardless of which continent the lion lives on, in Eurasia or Africa, the problem of their destruction by man is the same. After all, about twenty years ago, these African predators numbered more than 230 thousand. Today, their numbers have shrunk tenfold. The reason for this is human hostility. Due to the frequent attacks of lions on livestock, the population uses poisonous baits or weapons to fight them. This was the reason for the catastrophic reduction in the number of these animals.
Life span of the king of beasts
When talking about saving the lives of wild cats, one cannot help but think about how long lions live in the wild. However, if we compare these predators with other animals, then their life span is rather short. Unlike captive lions, in the wild, lions rarely live to be thirty years old. Indeed, by the age of fifteen, they are very weak, which does not allow them to maintain their power over the family. In addition, many individuals do not live to this age due to fights with other males. Lionesses have several life spans.longer.
It is not uncommon for lions to die in fights with crocodiles, which are their only natural and mortal enemies. There is an eternal struggle between them. If a lion can destroy a crocodile on land, then the crocodile will take revenge on him in the aquatic environment.
Pride food
A lion's favorite treat is meat. However, it serves as the main food that this animal consumes. A lion alone in a year eats about fifteen large animals, the average weight of which reaches one hundred kilograms. Interestingly, the main food earners are lionesses. But when the meal begins, the leader of the pride is the first to come to the food. It is he who chooses the tidbit for himself, and the rest is eaten by females and young people. The lion family dines once every three days. Each of its members can eat about eighteen kilograms of meat. After the meal, the pride goes to the watering hole. After a hearty meal, the family goes to sleep, which can last up to twenty hours.
It is noteworthy that in the habitats and hunting of wild cats there are always flocks of hyenas or jackals. And often lion prides generously share their food with them.
Lion Hunt
Most often lions hunt deer, zebras, antelopes, sometimes giraffes. Other similar animals are no exception. In the daytime, the lion pride tries to rest in the shade, and after dark it goes hunting. As a rule, a family of four individuals at least once intakes a week to get a large animal for himself. The lion, which has a special role during the hunt, frightens and distracts the attention of the victim. His relatives are in ambush, hiding in the grass and slowly creeping up. The special bloody work is usually done by young lions, while the old male leads the overall process.
However, most often it is the lionesses who are the breadwinners for the pride. They surround the animal they like and slowly approach it. Having chosen the moment, one of the lionesses knocks the victim down with a strong blow of her big paws and sinks her teeth into the throat. One attack out of four ends successfully for the hunters. As soon as the lionesses attacked the prey, the male lion appears in all its glory, which, deftly jumping, can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.
Reproduction and offspring
Lions are very loving animals. Maybe that's why they breed at any time of the year. For mating, the male takes his mate away from the place where the lions live. In Africa, unlike Asian relatives, the leader can have from four to six lionesses. When the female's gestation period is three and a half months, she leaves the family to produce offspring. To do this, the lioness chooses a secluded corner in the thick of bushes.
Lion cubs are born blind and helpless. Their skin is covered with spots that disappear as they grow older. The average number of babies born ranges from three to five individuals, but no more than half survive to adulthood. Lion cubs feed on mothermilk, but at the age of seven months they begin to eat meat. Babies will join the pride when they are two months old. Lions are considered adults only at the age of five.
Sea Lions
Speaking of lions, one cannot help but think of their aquatic namesakes, the sea lions. These pinnipeds, having no resemblance to wild cats, have a lot in common with seals. The only difference is that they do not attempt long-distance migrations and remain on their shores for the winter. Where sea lions live, there are no huge areas with lush greenery, and there are no hot days, as in the savannahs. Almost all of these animals live in the cold waters of the North Pacific Ocean, as well as in the South Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Their habitats include the coast of North America in the region of the California Peninsula, the Galapagos Islands, as well as the southeastern part of the Sea of Japan.
The sea lions feed on fish. Sometimes, to catch it, they have to dive to a depth of ninety meters. Also, the diet of these pinnipeds may include molluscs and crustaceans.
