To most people, lions are the epitome of wild cats. The male’s impressive size, luxurious mane, and magnificent roar have been admired by man since time immemorial. Lions have long enjoyed a pre-eminent reputation in the symbolism, folklore, and religion of cultures throughout the world. People call them king of beasts and king of the jungle. Although they cannot possibly live up to the mythical reputation built up around them, in reality they are still very unique and interesting felines.

Lions are the only obviously sexually dimorphic cat, with the male having a noticeable yellowish to dark brown mane of hair on the neck and shoulders. The coat color of both the male (lion) and the female (lioness) is usually a uniform tawny color, but can vary from silvery grey to yellowish red and dark ochraceous brown. The face is broad and the muzzle is relatively long with a mostly black nose pad. The iris is yellow to amber in colour, and the pupils are round. The ears are short and rounded with black over most of their backs. The forelimbs are more powerfully built than the hind limbs, and the footpads are large. The tail is relatively long, with a dark tuft of fur at the end. There is often a hard, keratinous growth or spur concealed in the hair tuft. The lioness is noticeably smaller and lighter in weight than the male (20-50%), as well as being maneless. The Asiatic subspecies Panthera leo persica does not look significantly different from the African subspecies, although the males have smaller manes.

Males in the extreme north and south of their African range tend to have fuller manes, which may extend partially along the back and underside of the body. Manes give the appearance of greater size without adding much weight. They are thought to identify sex and adult status to other lions, as well as give females clues to the health and vigour of the male. They may even assist in individual recognition. Manes are also thought to protect the head and neck areas from injury during fighting.

Lions were once found from southeastern Europe, throughout Africa and the Middle East to northern India. Their range has been much reduced, now being scattered through sub-Saharan Africa, with their strongholds being the national parks and wildlife reserves of East Africa. There is also a relict population of about 350 individuals in India.

These cats prefer living on grassy plains, savannah, open woodlands and scrub forest, but can be found in a variety of other habitats from semi-deserts to forests. They have been recorded from sea level to an altitude of 5,000 metres in the mountains of Kenya.

Lions are easily the most social cat species, forming and living in groups called prides. Prides usually consist of four to 12 related females, their offspring, and from one to six males (males may be related to one another also). The size of the pride usually depends on habitat type and prey availability, with the largest prides occurring on the East African plains where there is an abundance of food. In marginal habitats, lions have been observed to hunt alone. Prides are thought to be formed for a number of reasons, including being easier to protect their territory, more success in hunting co-operatively, and more success in protecting and raising the young.

Lions may hunt by day or night, but are most active between dusk and dawn. They usually hunt using a slow stalk, alternately creeping and freezing, utilizing every available bit of cover before making a final short rush. They regularly take the largest prey species of any cat, including wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, and the young of hippo, elephants and giraffes. They are opportunistic, and will eat a variety of mammals and birds, as well as scavenge carrion. Because they are so big and powerful, they will also take prey that has been killed by other carnivores such as the cheetah Acinonyx jubatus, and will kill the carnivores to get it.

Lionesses in a pride often come into oestrous and give birth in synchrony. The mechanism(s) controlling this phenomenon are not well understood. Females are polyestrous, and heat usually lasts around four days. The gestation period is 100 - 119 days, and one to six, usually two to four, cubs are born in a secluded area. They weigh around 1,200 grams at birth, and their coats are marked with ochre rosette-like spots, mainly on the belly and legs. The coat is quite woolly. Their eyes open by 14 days, and they start to eat meat around four weeks of age. By six months of age, their coats have lost their spots and woolliness. They are weaned at six or seven months, and young males are driven out of the pride between 18 and 24 months of age. As many as 70 - 80% of kittens die before two years of age, depending on the availability of prey and the ability of the females to provide food. Females are sexually mature at three or four years of age, while males take five to six years. Lions have lived to over 30 years of age in captivity.

The greatest threat to this big cat’s existence is habitat loss. The open savannah so favoured by lions is also favoured by people wanting to farm or graze their cattle. With over half a billion people already looking for places to live and food to eat in Africa, careful planning for the lion’s future must be an immediate priority.

Asiatic lions are confined to the Gir Forest Preserve in northwestern India. Similar pressures of not enough habitat are being put on this population. Even though it is a preserve, farmers still graze their cattle and goats within the boundaries, and people also regularly enter the park to gather firewood for cooking. There must be stricter enforcement of the regulations if this population is to remain viable. Plans are underway to relocate a small population of the Gir lions to another protected area in India, always a difficult task in a heavily populated country. The second population will provide a back-up in case of disease outbreak or other disaster.

Lion pictures © Peter Cromer.