Lions
What do you already know about lions?
Lions can be found living in many places in Africa and in one national park in India. They used to live in many places all over the world and there were lots of them but now there are fewer and fewer of them living in the wild.
There is one species of lion, but there are then two subspecies, the Northern Lion (including lions found in North and West Africa and Asiatic Lions too) and the Southern Lion (found in South and East Africa).
Previously lions were divided into many different subspecies but research has shown there are only minor differences in appearance and it’s not enough to be divided into separate subspecies.
All lions are listed as vulnerable to becoming endangered and need protection, while some groups of lions are listed as endangered or critically endangered. The Barbary Lion are sadly extinct in the wild.
Male Lion
Female Lion
Lions are the second biggest cat living on Earth. The biggest is tigers. Their fur is usually a yellowy brownish colour, but they can also be quite dark in places too. Lions are the only cats with a tuft of hair at the end of it’s tail.
You can often tell how old a lion is, as sometimes their fur gets darker the older they get, but the colouring of a lion is also dependent on their habitat and the climate too.
Male and female lions look quite different because a male lion has a mane around its face and neck. The darker and bigger a lion’s mane the older and more dominant they are. It is also thought to be a reflection on how healthy they are.
Lions have sharp claws and teeth. They have powerful legs that help them run fast in short bursts, sometimes reaching speeds of about 50 miles an hour. Lions also have excellent night vision and great hearing, all of which helps them when hunting their prey.
When a lion cub is born they are covered in camouflage spots to help them hide from predators. These fade as they get older. A lion’s nose also changes colour from completely pink when born to totally black as an adult. The black colour comes from a pattern of black freckles (as unique as our fingerprints) that slowly increase over time.
Can you believe it...
African Lion living in Kenya.
Lions like to live with other lions in groups called prides. A lot of other cats prefer to live on their own. Prides are made up of lots of female lions and their cubs and one or two male lions.
Females have between two to six cubs at a time. They take good care of their cubs when they are born and for years after. Male lions tend to leave their pride when they are about three years old.
Lions are nocturnal animals, enjoying sleeping a lot during the day. In fact they spend most of their time just lying around, enjoying the sun, sleeping for around 20 hours a day!
It’s mainly the female lions that hunt for food and they often do it together with other female lions. They usually hunt at night, especially at dusk when the sun is setting and dawn when the sun is starting to come back up. They like to eat zebras, wildebeests, buffalo and other mammals. Although they do hunt for their food, if they find an animal that has already died they will eat that too!
Prey spotted and being watched!
Female lion up and about at dusk, on the hunt for prey.
Sleeping lions during the day!
Lions go on the hunt for food at dusk or dawn. Female lions do most of the hunting, while the male lions job is to protect the prides territory.
What we've learnt...
Lions are found living in the wild in Africa and in small numbers in Asia.
You can tell the difference between male and female lions because a male lion has a mane around its face and neck.
Lions live in social groups called prides.
Female lions hunt the prey and male lions protect the pride and its territory.
Lions are carnivores and like to eat big mammals such as zebras and wildebeests.
Test your knowledge...
Lions Quiz
If you click the correct answer the box will turn green. If its the wrong answer it will turn red and then show you what the correct answer was. Make sure you read/listen to the questions carefully!
#1. Which lion is extinct in the wild?
#2. Where do lions live?
Select all that apply:
#3. Are lions…
#4. What is a group of lions called?
#5. Do male or female lions do most of the hunting?
Results
I really hope you have enjoyed learning all about Lions, with me Flash!
Question Time...
Can you tell me more about Barbary Lions?
by Grace
Barbary Lions used to be found living in North Africa. Evidence shows they were around for a long time, and were around during the Roman Empire. They were big lions, and the males had dark manes. They became extinct in the wild mainly due to hunting and habitat loss. It is not know for certain when these lions became extinct in the wild, but the last confirmed sighting of one was in 1942, when it was tragically shot by a human hunting it.
700 years ago there used to be a zoo at the Tower of London and Barbary Lions were kept there. We know this because two well preserved fossilised lion skulls were found in the moat there and tests on them revealed they were Barbary Lion skulls. You can see one of the skulls on display at the Natural History Museum.
Some Barbary Lions were also kept in captivity by the Moroccan Royal Family. It is from these lions that the lions in zoos are thought to have come from. It is questioned however if these lions are purely Barbary Lions.
Barbary Lion at Port Lympne Reserve.
Any other questions?
Is there anything else you’d like to know? Ask your grown up or teacher to ask me! Your question and my answer could then appear here.
All photos and illustrations on this page are Whizzbots, Shutterstock or Public Domain Images.