LION Panthera leo

Distribution:

Northern Natal, Transvaal, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mocambique.

Diet;

They will eat almost any kind of animal from insects to Elephants.

Habitat:

They are mainly found in woodland type areas but can survive in semi desert or bush areas.

Habits:

They are the only true social cats.

The territory is owned by the lioness with the territorial males only protecting the area for approximately three years.

The females in the pride are all related - mothers, aunts, daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, cousins and sisters.

The mane on the males is used to increase his size and is for protection against bites and blows delivered during fights.

The front paws are larger than the back paws.

Lions can spend as much as 20 hours a day sleeping.

Lions will hunt in the day or in the night and are more active on overcast, cool days.

Lions will readily scavange and often do so.

Males will feed at a kill first or chase off the other Lions if they get there after the others have started feeding.

They have excellent night vision.

Lions show enormous strength.

Lions will always drink after eating.

Breeding:

Females will give birth to 1-5 youngsters after a gestation period of three months.

The cubs can suckle for as long as 18 months but are normally weaned by 8 weeks.

There is a high mortality rate amongst cubs.

Predators:

Hyena sometimes kill lion but only in conflicts.

New territorial male will kill another males' cubs.

Leopard will kill a Lion cub if found unprotected.