African Lion - Panthera leo
Meet Our Lioness
Many captive born wild and exotic animals are still used through out the United States as props in pictures with paying guests. There is a difference between a "photo-op" and an Ambassador Animal that is part of an educational program where the animal is carefully supervised and it's health and welfare are the priority. A question to ask is "what happens to that animal once it is no longer small, cute, profitable, or becomes ill, dangerous, and/or illegal?" Under current USDA regulations (2021) big cats such as lions and tigers, can only have exposure to public physical contact until 12 weeks of age. This is the most vulnerable age for these animals. Many are stressed or become ill from being mishandled or exposure to disease. We know that some are sold to responsible private individuals, but the majority that survive eventually end up at rescue sanctuaries like Cat Tales.
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Lion Facts
Species: African Lioness Panthera leo
Habitat: Grassy plains of Africa
Lifespan: Wild 12-15 years Captivity 18-22 years
Diet: Carnivore
Status: Vulnerable
For all of their roaring, growling, and ferociousness, lions are family animals and truly social in their own communities. They usually live in groups of 15 or more animals called prides. Lion prides can be as small as 3 or as big as 40 animals. In a pride, lions hunt prey, raise cubs, and defend their territory together. In prides the females do most of the hunting and cub rearing. Usually, all the lionesses in the pride are related—mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and sisters.
Many of the females in the pride give birth at about the same time. A cub may nurse from other females as well as its mother. Each pride generally will have no more than two adult males. Only males have manes, size and length vary by region.
While the females usually live with the pride for life, the males often stay for only two to four years. After that they go off on their own or are evicted by other males who take over the pride. When a new male becomes part of the pride it is not unusual for him to kill all the cubs, ensuring that all future cubs will have his genes. The main job of males in the pride is defending the pride's territory. A male's loud roar, usually heard after sunset, can carry for as far as five miles (eight kilometers). The roar warns off intruders and helps round up stray members of the pride.
Hunting generally is done in the dark by the lionesses. They often hunt in groups of two or three, using teamwork to stalk, surround, and kill their prey. Lionesses aren't the most successful of hunters, because they usually score only one kill out of several tries. After the kill the males usually eat first, lionesses next—and the cubs get what's left. Lions will gorge themselves eating up to 66 pounds (30 kg) at one sitting. Males and females fiercely defend against any outside lions that attempt to join their pride.
Habitat: Grassy plains of Africa
Lifespan: Wild 12-15 years Captivity 18-22 years
Diet: Carnivore
Status: Vulnerable
For all of their roaring, growling, and ferociousness, lions are family animals and truly social in their own communities. They usually live in groups of 15 or more animals called prides. Lion prides can be as small as 3 or as big as 40 animals. In a pride, lions hunt prey, raise cubs, and defend their territory together. In prides the females do most of the hunting and cub rearing. Usually, all the lionesses in the pride are related—mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and sisters.
Many of the females in the pride give birth at about the same time. A cub may nurse from other females as well as its mother. Each pride generally will have no more than two adult males. Only males have manes, size and length vary by region.
While the females usually live with the pride for life, the males often stay for only two to four years. After that they go off on their own or are evicted by other males who take over the pride. When a new male becomes part of the pride it is not unusual for him to kill all the cubs, ensuring that all future cubs will have his genes. The main job of males in the pride is defending the pride's territory. A male's loud roar, usually heard after sunset, can carry for as far as five miles (eight kilometers). The roar warns off intruders and helps round up stray members of the pride.
Hunting generally is done in the dark by the lionesses. They often hunt in groups of two or three, using teamwork to stalk, surround, and kill their prey. Lionesses aren't the most successful of hunters, because they usually score only one kill out of several tries. After the kill the males usually eat first, lionesses next—and the cubs get what's left. Lions will gorge themselves eating up to 66 pounds (30 kg) at one sitting. Males and females fiercely defend against any outside lions that attempt to join their pride.
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