Lion - Facts, Information, Habitat, Diet, & Lifespan

Life Span

10–14 years

Top speed

80 km/h

Size

1.4–2 m

Weight

90–190 kg

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large, carnivorous mammal known as the “king of the jungle.” Lions live in social groups called prides. Found in Africa and India, they symbolize strength and power. Their majestic mane and impressive roar distinguish them from other big cats.

Lion Facts Overview

Size:	1.4–2 m
Weight:	120–190 kg (males), 90–130 kg (females)
Top Speed:	80 km/h
Food:	Meat (antelope, zebra)
Color:	Tawny
Location:	Africa, India
Predators:	Humans, hyenas (cubs)
Lifespan:	10–14 years
Habitat:	Grasslands, savannas
Gestation:	110 days

Lion Interesting Facts

Lions are the second-largest big cats after tigers. Adult males have impressive manes that grow darker with age. A lion’s roar is the loudest among all big cats. Lions spend around 16-20 hours sleeping daily, conserving energy for hunting.

Lion Description

Lions have muscular bodies with short, tawny fur and a long tail ending in a tuft. Adult males grow thick manes, ranging from blonde to black. They are powerful hunters with sharp claws and strong jaws, designed for bringing down large prey like wildebeest.

Lion Characteristics

Lions are highly social and cooperative hunters. Male lions guard the pride’s territory, while females hunt and raise cubs. Their keen eyesight helps them hunt at night. They communicate using roars, growls, and body language. Their strong build ensures dominance in the wild.

Lion Care

In captivity, lions require spacious enclosures, a meat-rich diet, regular veterinary care, and mental stimulation. Zoos focus on conservation and education. Enrichment activities, like puzzle feeders, help maintain their physical and mental health, mimicking natural hunting behaviors. Breeding programs help preserve endangered populations.

Lion Lifespan

Lions live around 10–14 years in the wild, but in captivity, they can reach 20 years. Survival depends on food availability and threats like hunting and habitat loss. Cubs face high mortality rates due to predators and competition. Captive lions live longer due to protection.

Lion Predators

Adult lions have few predators besides humans. Lion cubs, however, are vulnerable to hyenas, leopards, and other lions. Human activities, such as hunting and habitat destruction, pose the greatest threats. Conservation efforts focus on protecting wild populations from these dangers.

Lion Habitat

Lions thrive in grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands. They prefer areas with abundant prey and water sources. They avoid dense forests and deserts. Their habitat is shrinking due to human expansion, increasing conflict with humans and livestock in nearby villages.

Lion Distribution

Lions once roamed Africa, Asia, and Europe. Today, they live mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, with a small population in India’s Gir Forest. Habitat loss and hunting have drastically reduced their range. Conservation reserves help protect remaining lion populations from extinction.

Lion Diet

Lions are carnivores, feeding on large herbivores like zebra, wildebeest, and buffalo. They hunt in groups, targeting weak or young animals. Opportunistic eaters, lions sometimes scavenge. A single lion can consume up to 40 kg of meat in one meal after a successful hunt.

Lion Behavior

Lions are active mostly at night and spend much of the day resting. They live in prides, with a dominant male leading several females and cubs. Pride members cooperate for hunting and protection. Roaring strengthens social bonds and marks territory boundaries.

Lion Reproduction

Lions mate throughout the year. Females give birth to 1–4 cubs after a 110-day gestation. Lionesses hide newborns for the first few weeks. Cubs face high mortality but join the pride at 6–8 weeks. The whole pride helps care for the cubs.