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 The Lion  Back The
lion (Panther leo) is the second largest of the cat species (the tiger is
the largest). Adult male lions are eight to nine feet in length and weigh
300 to 400 lbs. Female lions, or lionesses, are smaller than males and have
slender bodies, which contributes to their hunting skills. Only adult males
have manes. Lion cubs are born with dark spots all over their bodies that
may camouflage them from predators. These spots fade as the cubs grow older.Range: In the past, African lions could be found all over Africa except in the deserts. Now, however, they survive only in reserves from the southern part of the Sahara to southern Africa, except in the Congo rain forests. Unfortunately, many lion experts believe that there is no future for the African lion outside of protected areas. The Asiatic lion is only found in the Gir Forest of northwest India . Habitat: Lions' preferred habitats are grassy plains, open woodlands and scrub country. Diet: Lions prey on a wide variety of animals, including buffalo, wildebeests, warthogs, zebras, rhino and elephant calves, and many types of antelope. They may also scavenge, stealing prey from leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas. Social Organization: The lion is the only cat that is truly social. Lions live in family groups called prides, which are commonly defined as groups of resident females, their offspring and attendant males which share an area and interact. African lions may form permanent prides consisting of anywhere from two to eighteen related females, their offspring and a coalition of one to seven males. Lionesses in a pride hunt their prey as a team while males stay behind and guard the cubs. When the hunt is over, males get first choice of the meat and sometimes even drive females away from a kill. Males in a pride are often challenged by males from other prides. A lion that loses a challenge is forced to leave the pride, if not killed. Asiatic lions, on the other hand, exhibit a slightly different social structure than African lions. Male Asiatic lions often associate with females only when they are in estrus or on a large kill. Coalitions of male Asiatic lions are temporary and may defend territories, within which several groups of lionesses and their young may be found. Lion cubs are born in litters of three to five animals. Born completely helpless and with eyes closed, they stay hidden from the pride for the first few weeks of life. Once introduced to the pride, cubs remain dependent on their mothers for two and a half years, a longer period of time than is seen in any other cat species. This long period of dependency is necessary for cubs to learn group hunting skills and the social skills needed for life in a pride. Conservation Status: The African lion is listed as Vulnerable (East and Southern subspecies) and Endangered (West African) by the IUCN and is on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). A listing of II means the species is not necessarily threatened with extinction now, but could become threatened if trade is not strictly controlled. The Asiatic lion is listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act and is on CITES Appendix I. Appendix I species are those threatened with extinction that might be affected by trade. African lions are scattered throughout Africa in small, isolated populations. The total African lion population is believed to include about 10,000 animals. The Asiatic lion is restricted to the Gir Forest in northwest India, where about 280 lions are believed to survive. Threats to Survival: The outlook for lions is particularly guarded. A major factor affecting the lion is habitat destruction, which has resulted in small, isolated populations. The geographic isolation of these populations can lead to inbreeding, which causes health and fitness problems. In areas inhabited by livestock and humans, lions are persecuted heavily for predation. Conservation (Field Work): In October 1993, a Population Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) was held in Baroda, India for the Asiatic lion. Field and captive conservation measures were delineated. In addition, a series of technical workshops were held in four Indian zoos to expose professionals, from the keeper to director level, to the most recent veterinary, reproductive, husbandry and genetic techniques for the successful management of the Asiatic lion in India. In February 1996, a PHVA was held in Namibia, Africa for the African lion. Numerous significant threats to the Namibian lion were identified. The Etosha National Park population is of particular concern since it is genetically isolated and thus may face future demographic and genetic problems. Additionally, the Etosha lion population is one of the few, if not the only free-living population in Africa which is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) disease-free. Currently, the Lion SSP is focusing in situ conservation efforts on Etosha National Park lions. | |
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