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Named 'Panthera Leo', lion is the second largest cat with a weight
ranging from 350-520 lbs and a body length from 2-2.8 metres for the
males. The females are smaller with a weight and height range of
250-350 lbs and 1.4-1.9 metres respectively. Having a wide geographic
distribution historically, lions currently reside in the wild only in
Africa and India. Similarly two distinct subspecies are broadly
recognized - the African and Asiatic Lion.
The oldest fossil
record of Panthera Leo dates back 3.5 million years and was discovered
in Tanzania. Lions had a huge range historically and were found in
Europe and America as early as 10,000 years ago. The Eurasian Cave
Lion, followed closely by the American Lion, was perhaps the largest
cat to have existed. Both these great cats became extinct during the
last ice age with the eradication of their prey animals. Widespread
hunting also contributed to their downfall as lions disappeared from
North Africa and major parts of Asia, limited today to Sub-Saharan
Africa and Gir forest in India.
Lions usually have a uniform
coloration, varying from golden to brown. Cubs frequently have spots on
their coat that disappear as they age. Sometimes they persist and are
visible on limbs and belly, that usually is whitish in color
(particularly in lionesses). Male lions are the only cats to sport a
mane, though male tigers frequently have mane-like hair surrounding
their skull. However, mane in case of lions extends to their neck,
shoulders and belly. The evolutionary origin of the mane is a subject
of some controversy with some authorities maintaining that is an
indication of sexual prowess and testosterone levels while others argue
that its chief function is protection against other lions in fights.
Both views appear to be true, however mane is frequently seen to be
linked with environmental conditions. Captive lions in cooler climates
of Europe and North America sport heavier manes whereas the lions of
bushy Tsavo region in Kenya are maneless. Lions have the largest skull
amongst all cats, with strong jaws and canines designed to suit their
carnivorous lifestyle.
Lions have a social lifestyle unique from
all other cats. They live in groups, called prides, that vary in number
from 3-5 in case of Asiatic lions to up to 30-40 in African lions'
case. Group living offers them several advantages including cooperative
hunting and protection for the cubs. A pride usually consists of 1-3
adult male lions and 10-20 lionesses and their cubs. Female lionesses
usually stay in a pride for the entirety of their lives, wheres males
are removed from the pride by the adults as they reach maturity, and
must search and take over a pride of their own. Lions are excellent
hunters and are capable of taking down prey of any size owing to their
specialized hunting skills. Females are the chief hunters and owing to
their sleek yet immensely strong body structure are one of the most
fearful hunters in all of animal kingdom. Usual approach is to circle
the targeted prey and close in gradually. Couple of lionesses initiate
the charge with the specific purpose of scaring and confusing the herd
as they run straight towards the remaining members of the pride that
stalk the prey's exit routes. Death is usually by suffocation however,
lions are fully capable of killing up to medium-sized animals by swats
from their giant forepaws. In fact lionesses often specialize in
killing even large prey like zebra by breaking their neck through shear
momentum as they try to avulse it during their leap. Contrary to
popular belief, recent research shows that males partake in up to
50-60% of all hunts - particularly for big prey like the cape buffalo.
However, the chief function of the big males is protection of the pride
from outside threats. With a big mane, immensely strong forequarters
and powerful jaws - lions are perhaps the best fighters amongst land
mammals. The other predominant feature of the male lion is his bravery.
Great hunters and historians maintain the lion as the king of beasts
because of its great strength and courage. While the tiger slinks away
through the forest, the lion stands his ground, at times showing
incredible daring. There are few things more fearful than a hungry lion
and at times his mere roar has caused many a hunters to fall from the
machan to lion's hungry jaws. Lion's roar is in fact the loudest
amongst all cats and on a clear day carries over several kilometers.
Lions
usually prey on antelope, gazelle, zebra, wildebeest, warthog and
buffalo. However lions have been known to prey on elephants and hippos
in Botswana. There are accounts of black rhinoceros kills in Etosha
national park by lions. At times lions, driven by disease, lack of prey
or habitat encroachment by humans, turn to man-eating. Man-eating lions
display supreme cunning and daring and are highly feared by African
natives, considered demons and supernatural spirits. Apart from all his
savagery, lion displays nobility too and unlike the leopard, rarely
attacks humans unless driven by extreme hunger.
Lions mate
several times in a year and females give birth to up to four or five
cubs after a gestational period lasting nearly three and a half to four
months. Cubs suckle from their mothers and other pride females up to
six months and in case of males usually stay with the pride up to two
years of age. Despite protection of the pride, up to 50% of lion cubs
in the wild do not survive owing to starvation or occasional
cannibalism by other lions. When nomadic male lions take over a pride
from the resident males, after a bloody and often mortal battle, they
kill their cubs. This serves not only to bring the lionesses in heat
but also to ensure only their gene pool continues in the next
generation. The average reign of a male lion over a pride is usually 3
years. He is in his peak condition from 4 years to 9 years of age, and
his authority is absolute over the plains of Africa!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on lion.
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