Who is the lion hunting? African lion. How does an animal hunt?
The lion is a real personification of strength, dexterity and nobility, and therefore is rightfully called the "king of beasts." These majestic animals in an interesting way social organization is built. Hunting is their only way to get food. How do lions hunt and will they be able to cope with such large prey as an elephant?
Meeting the Predator
A lion - predatory mammal belonging to the cat family. The appearance of these beautiful creatures is very characteristic, and a distinctive feature of the species is pronounced sexual demorphism. Males are much larger than females and have an ornament in the form of a thick mane. In some subspecies, it is highly developed and partially covers the back, chest and shoulders. The predator's fur is colored in various shades yellow gray. The color of the mane usually matches the color of the rest of the hairline, but sometimes it can be darker.
The body length of lions reaches 2.5 m, and sometimes their weight exceeds 250 kg. Teeth big cat quite large, their size is 8 cm. In total, there are 30 fangs in the lion's mouth. The second formidable weapon of this killing machine is the claws. Their length reaches 7 cm.
The life expectancy of representatives of this species in the wild is on average 10-14 years. In captivity, some individuals live up to 20 years. Males rarely manage to cross the 10-year mark due to the fact that fights for territory often end in the death of one of the rivals.
social organization
The life of lions can be organized in two ways. The most common option is pride. Most often, it consists of several females who are relatives, offspring of both sexes and a male. In some cases, a pride can have from 2 to 4 males. This situation is possible when the lions are brothers. Growing males are expelled from the pride when they reach sexual maturity.
The second type of organization is represented by wandering solitary individuals. Most often, they are young lions expelled from the pride, since the vast majority of males go through this stage of life. Sometimes they remain alone until the end. But there are times when wandering individuals join someone else's pride or establish their own.
How does the animal hunt?
How do lions and lionesses hunt? A distinctive feature of the hunting of these beautiful cats is the pursuit of one chosen prey by well-coordinated groups. Predators are strong, but they do not differ in special endurance. Therefore, lions try to get as close and imperceptibly as possible to a potential prey and develop high speed only over a short distance.
Often hunting takes place at night, which greatly helps the lions, as the prey is poorly oriented in the dark. For the most part, hunting rests on the shoulders of females. Males take part only if the prey is too large. Several individuals surround the herd and pounce on the chosen victim. Females try to quickly grab the target with several powerful jumps. The caught animal dies most often from suffocation or fractures in the neck.
How do lions hunt alone when they travel alone? Such individuals are forced to get food on their own. Hunting in a group greatly increases the chances of success, as the actions of the lions are well coordinated. Therefore, single individuals are more often left without prey. Otherwise, they act like groups: they sneak up on the victim as close as possible and attack, trying to strangle her.
Do lions attack elephants?
Antelopes, zebras, warthogs and buffaloes are the most common prey for lions. But sometimes a majestic predator chooses a larger target.
How do lions hunt elephants? The adult "king of beasts" is extremely strong, but the elephant is much stronger. Wild cats capable of taking down smaller prey with a single blow, and hunting in groups makes the task much easier. With elephants, everything is much more complicated.
Firstly, lions risk attacking an elephant only if they are very hungry, and there are simply no other victims. And secondly, they prefer to choose a young or sick animal that is not able to fight back like a healthy, adult elephant.
These beautiful predators are striking not only for their grace and strength. Below are a few facts that may surprise you:
- The lion is the second largest living feline. In size, it is second only to the tiger.
- The animal goes hunting only when it is hungry.
- Representatives of the species can sleep up to 20 hours a day.
- The predator is able to do without water for several months.
- In the last few decades, the population has declined by 50%.
- The porcupine is the real enemy of the lion.
Some wonder if tigers and lions have different ways of obtaining food. How do tigers hunt, and do their methods differ from that of the “king of beasts”?
Since the tabby cat is a loner by nature, her hunting is noticeably different from that of a lion. Cases of attacks by tigers on prey in packs are rare. This is a lone hunter, accustomed to silently sneaking up to his goal. Having reduced the distance to 20 meters, the tiger swiftly attacks and tries to overturn the prey due to its own weight, grabbing it by the neck.
The power and strength of the lion is covered with legends. Because he looks really regal. Imagination primarily draws a lion in his prime. His incomparable dark gold or black-brown mane gives him the majesty of a monarch. And the voice of the lion is no less impressive than his appearance. On a quiet night, the lion's roar inspires awe in all who hear it - even at a distance of eight kilometers. In his behavior, the lion also shows many royal qualities.
The lion is a huge predator, with a strong, flexible, agile and muscular body. He runs well. This large predatory cat has a well-developed neck and front paws with which it captures and holds its prey. The jaws of the lion are powerful, with huge fangs. The grip of a lion with only one teeth is very strong. It can hold even such large animals as the wildebeest. The tongue is rough and covered with tubercles in the form of sharp spikes, which help it grab and tear off pieces of meat, literally tearing the prey apart. These same spikes help the lion catch fleas and remove the ticks when he grooms his skin. Lions prey on large animals: zebras, gazelles, wildebeest and do not disdain theft, taking prey from other predators.
The male lion is much larger than the female and 50 percent heavier in weight. It is easily recognizable by its massive mane.
The huge weight of the lion gives crushing power to his blow. He easily scatters females when he takes prey from them. Many males live exclusively on food obtained by females, and almost never try to get anything themselves. Usually the main role of males is to protect the territory from other animals encroaching on it. The females are mainly engaged in hunting. Lions differ from other cats in that they do not hunt alone, but in groups. They first try to isolate the victim from the herd, and then attack and kill her. They usually hunt at night, especially on the plains, where the grass is low and it is difficult for a predator to hide in it.
Several lionesses surround the intended animal, approaching it by about 30 meters, and in this way they finally determine their choice. When the lioness comes very close to the victim, she with a strong blow huge paws will knock her off her feet and immediately dig her teeth into her throat. Every fourth attack ends, as a rule, with the complete victory of predators. When the huntresses greedily pounce on their prey, a male lion appears. It is possible that a flock of hyenas may be nearby. Usually, lions, cracking down on a large killed animal, generously allows others to feast on prey. The habitat is usually protected by male lions. Within the same territory, a pack of lions can live, consisting of six male lions, twelve adult lionesses and young lion cubs.
Depending on the living conditions in a given territory and the number of other animals, a flock can occupy an area of up to 400 square km.
However, where there is more than enough food, this area can be much smaller. Lions breed at any time of the year, however, females of one pack (pride) prefer to have cubs at the same time (to make it easier to protect them from other predators and male lions of another pride). They even feed them, not dividing them into friends and foes. If one female dies, the rest take care of the cubs of the deceased. On average, a lioness brings up to three cubs in one litter. The cubs stay with their mother for up to six months while they suckle her. From the age of three months, they begin to eat meat little by little. Lionesses in the pride are almost always related to each other by family relations, newcomers are reluctantly accepted. Male lion cubs are taught to hunt later than lionesses, sometimes young lions begin to learn only in the fifth year of life. Therefore, it is important that males remain in their native pride as long as possible, but they are usually expelled when they are still young. These outcast males sometimes huddle together where they have more opportunities to survive. The pride of male bachelors is short-lived. Driven by instincts, males go to prides where lionesses live, and there they try to fight for leadership. In the heat of battle, success accompanies the strongest and most dexterous, and the once friendly flock of males soon breaks up. One of the mysteries of the behavior of lions was that males for some reason killed their cubs. Now this mystery has been solved. The fact is that the attack of males is caused by their jealousy of young lion cubs. Male lions do not tolerate extra rivals in their flock, which is why they seek to get rid of them. There is another explanation for such cruel and incomprehensible behavior. The male in this way encourages the female to give birth to new cubs. And they have a better chance of survival than the old cubs. Yes, they will get more food.
During the mating period, the relationship between partners is very tender. The dominant lion mates with a female in heat every twenty to thirty minutes - and so on for hours (up to 30-40 times a day in total). During sexual intercourse, the male lion bites the lioness on the scruff of the neck, as is typical of cats. Three and a half months after mating, the pregnant lioness leaves the pride, finds a secluded, grassy corner and gives birth to offspring there. Lion cubs are born blind and helpless. Their skin is covered with spots that gradually disappear as they grow older (although occasionally there are also adult lions with preserved “childish” spots). In most cases, no more than half of all lion cubs survive. Lion cubs suck their mother's milk from birth to six or seven months of age. Then they only eat meat. At the age of about two months, lion cubs join the pride. A lion is considered an adult at the age of 5 and by this time is gaining its optimal "combat" size.
Leo is one of the most large predators on the ground. The average African male weighs about 350 pounds (160 kilograms), and is about 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) long. However, a 690-pound (313 kilogram) male was shot dead in South Africa in 1936. The animal was exceptionally massive; probably, individuals of this weight no longer exist in nature. Life expectancy: up to 17-20 years in nature and up to 30 years in captivity.
White lions are lions with reduced melanin pigment production. The reason for this phenomenon is a rarely manifesting recessive gene. The result of its action is a light color, varying from cream-beige to snow-white. Some white lions are white in some parts of the body and cream in others; some are painted in an even white-cream color. White lions often have Blue eyes(which is also associated with low levels of melanin). Currently, about 300 white lions live on earth. There are special programs for the preservation of this type of color. But for the lions themselves, living in the wild, such a color only harms, as it unmasks them, making it difficult to hunt. There is an assumption that the gene that gives white color in lions remained from distant ancestors who lived in ice Age, when White color wool was essential for camouflage
A bit of lion history:
Lions reached their maximum distribution at the end of the Pleistocene: approximately 100,000–10,000 years ago, they had the most extensive land range among mammals. Various geographic races or subspecies of lions have been found from Alaska and Yukon to North America to Peru in South, throughout Europe, in Asia to Siberia and most of Africa. In North America, they became extinct about 10,000 years ago. In historical times, lions lived in the extreme south of Africa and throughout the north of this continent, as well as throughout Western Asia, reaching India, where they occupied semi-desert plains in the northern half of the country, and the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. On the European continent, lions were exterminated by 100 AD, and in other parts of the former range - by the end of the last century. In Iran, several lions were kept until 1942; in India, their number was reduced to about 25, and they remained there only in the Gir forest, but they were taken under protection, and since the 1940s their population has increased significantly. Now there are about 225 Asian lions. Studies have shown that these animals are morphologically and genetically different from African ones. Unfortunately, apparently as a result of prolonged inbreeding, Asiatic lions have almost completely lost their genetic diversity, which reduces their adaptive flexibility with changes. environment. In addition, they had symptoms of reproductive dysfunction (poor sperm quality with numerous abnormalities). Lions breed easily in captivity. As part of a worldwide program that includes dozens of zoos, over the years they have already received several hundred Asiatic lions, which make up their “reserve” population, which can be used to strengthen the wild. However, it was recently discovered that not only purebred Asian lions, but also African lions served as the founders of this population in captivity, so work is now underway to create a new, “pure” population, as well as to establish separate genealogical books for African lions bred in zoos.
The lion is called the "King of the Beasts". In the European tradition, it is a symbol of power, embodying the power of the sun and fire. In heraldry, the lion symbolizes royal dignity and nobility. In countries South- East Asia(China, Japan, Korea) since ancient times there has been a special, highly mythologized and stylized image of a lion - the so-called Chinese lion. It bears little resemblance to a real lion, and rather resembles a mythical creature. According to beliefs Ancient China, lion - the mythical defender of the Law, the guardian of sacred structures. It is a symbol of power and success, royal power and strength. Such lions were installed as "guardians" in front of the gates of imperial tombs, government residences, administrative buildings and religious buildings of imperial China (approximately since the Han Dynasty) and Japan. At present, it is an attribute of Buddhist temples in East Asia (China, Korea, Japan) and Central Asia (Mongolia and Russia) and Shinto shrines.
a lion (lat. Panthera Leo)- carnivorous mammal of the panther family (lat. Panthera), the largest after tigers, representative of the subfamily big cats (lat. Pantherinae) and a member of the cat family (lat. Felidae).
Description
Lions are large cats with short, yellowish-brown coats and long tails with a black tassel at the end. They are sexually dimorphic and the males are the only ones with a mane. A three-year-old male grows a mane, which has a color from black to light brown. Manes tend to be thicker in lions that live in open areas. Adult males weigh about 189 kg; record holder in big weight became a male, reaching 272 kilograms. Females weigh an average of 126 kg. The average height at the withers is 1.2 meters for males and 1.1 meters for females. The body length ranges from 2.4-3.3 m, and the tail length is 0.6-1.0 m. The longest recorded male lion was 3.3 meters.
Cubs up to 3 months old have brown spots on grayish coats. These spots can remain throughout the life of a lion, especially in East Africans. Albinism may occur in some populations, but there are no published records to support melanism (black fur) in lions. Adults have 30 teeth, adult females have 4 mammary glands.
Asiatic lions (P. l. persica) are much smaller than African lions and have a less dense mane. Their knees, tail tufts and longitudinal folds of skin on the abdomen are larger than those of African lions. Even though Asiatic lions and African lions have genetic differences, they are no more significant than the genetic differences between human races.
area
African lions (Panthera Leo) distributed south of the Sahara desert, except for deserts and tropical forests. Lions were once extirpated in South Africa, but can now be found in the Kruger and Kalahari-Gemsbok National Parks, and possibly some other protected areas. Previously, lions lived in southwest Asia and northern Africa.
Asian lions (P. l. persica) belong to the one remaining subspecies in this region. After migration from Greece to central India, Asiatic lions persist in the Gir Forest and northwest India.
African lions live in the plains or savannas, where a large number of food base (mainly ungulates) and the ability to hide in a safe shelter. In these optimal habitats, lions are the second most common large carnivore after the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Lions can live in wider ranges, with the exception of deserts. These predators are also adapted to life in forest, shrub, mountain and semi-desert areas. Lions can be found at high altitudes. There is a population of lions living in the mountains of Ethiopia at an altitude of 4240 meters.
Asiatic lions live in tree-shrub and teak vegetation of the small Gir forest, India.
reproduction
Lions breed throughout the year and tend to be polygamous. It is believed that lions copulate 3,000 times for each cub. One heat in five results in pregnancy, and lions mate about 2.2 times per hour during the four-day heat period. The main male of the pride has priority to mating with any female. Fight for females between males is usually absent.
Males are noticeably larger and showier, so they control the reproduction of many females during their pride management. They form coalitions with other males to increase their chances of absorbing another pride. Fierce competition among males and the social structure of the pride leads to the killing of cubs of both sexes. The males who dominate the pride usually rule for about 2 years, until another representative, younger and stronger, overthrows his predecessor. Absorption of prides through fighting and often with violence leads to serious injury and even death of the loser.
The reproductive advantage of the dominant male is expressed in the killing of small cubs, defeated males. A lioness who has lost her cubs leaves the pride for 2-3 weeks, and then returns during estrus. The optimal period between births is 2 years. Thus, by getting rid of all the little cubs at the moment of swallowing the pride, males provide themselves with the opportunity to become fathers and take possession of females that were previously inaccessible to them. Females who strongly defend their offspring during attacks can lose their lives.
Females breed throughout the year, but peak during the rainy season. As a rule, lion cubs are born every 2 years. However, if the offspring of the female dies (mainly with the participation of a lion), then her estrus occurs earlier, respectively, and less time passes between pregnancies. Females are able to breed at the age of 4 years, and males - 5 years. A lioness gives birth to 1 to 6 cubs after a 3.5-month pregnancy. There is an interval between pregnancies equal to about 20-30 months. Newborn kittens weigh from 1 to 2 kg. The eyes usually open on the 11th day, begin to walk after 15 days, and are able to run by the age of one month. The lioness guards her cubs for 8 weeks. Lion cubs stop feeding on milk at the age of 7-10 months, but they are very dependent on adults in the pride, at least until they reach the age of 16 months.
| Breeding interval | breeding season | Number of babies born at one time |
| Females usually have cubs every 2 years. However, if the cubs die (due to male invasion), then the female comes into heat earlier, and accordingly, she becomes pregnant more often. | Reproduction occurs throughout the year, but the greatest activity occurs during the rainy season. | 1 to 6 |
| Average offspring | Average duration of pregnancy | Age at weaning babies from mother's milk |
| 3 | 3.5 months (109 days) | 7-10 months |
| Lion cubs gaining independence | Average age of reproductive maturity in females | Average age of reproductive maturity in males |
| Not earlier than 16 months | 4 years | 5 years |
Females are mainly engaged in raising offspring. They not only feed their cubs, but also take care of the young of their relatives from the pride, if the cubs have a slight age difference. Mortality among kittens is low, this is due to the synchronous feeding of young animals from one pride with milk. If at the same time cubs are born to several lionesses, the entire pride participates in their upbringing. Cubs are often left alone for more than one day at 5-7 months of age. They are most vulnerable during this period and may be attacked by predators (often hyenas). Hungry mothers often abandon weak lion cubs who are not able to keep up with the entire pride. Although males do not care for their offspring, they play an important role in protecting the young from competing males. As long as the male maintains control of the pride, preventing another male from taking over, the risk of infanticide by rivals is reduced.
Lifespan
Females tend to live longer than males (about 15-16 years). Lions are at the peak of their strength between the ages of 5 and 9, after reaching the age of 10 only a small part of the males survive. Some males live up to 16 years in the wild. In the Serengeti, females reach the age of 18 years. In captivity, lions live for about 13 years. The oldest lion lived 30 years.
Adults are not threatened by predators, but are vulnerable to humans, starvation, and attacks from other lions. Infanticide is an important factor in the increase in mortality among lion cubs.
Female Asiatic lions live an average of 17-18 years, with a maximum of 21. Male Asiatic lions usually reach the age of 16 years. The mortality rate for adult Asiatic lions is less than 10%. In the Gir forest, about 33% of cubs die within the first year of life.
Behavior
Prides are the main social structure lion society. Members can come and go from these groups. The number of lions varies from 2 to 40 individuals. In the Kruger and Serengeti National Parks, prides consist of an average of 13 lions. Average composition of these prides: 1.7 adult males, 4.5 adult females, 3.8 juveniles, and 2.8 cubs.
Pride resident males are immigrants who have gained control of a pride through forcible capture. In order to successfully master the family, males form coalitions, usually from brothers. Boys leave their native pride when their fathers (or new leaders) begin to consider them as competitors, usually at 2.5 years old. These males are nomadic for two to three years and then form a coalition and look for a pride to conquer. Coalitions of 2 males tend to rule the pride for no more than 2.5 years, this time is enough for the birth of one generation of cubs. Coalitions of 3-4 males usually run the pride for more than 3 years. Coalitions of more than 4 males are very rare, as large coalitions are difficult to stick together.
Prides consist of females who are related to each other. They remain to live in their mother's territory. Females do not compete with each other and do not express dominant behavior as seen in some matriarchal social systems. Related females often synchronously reproduce and then cross-feed each other's young. Such mutually beneficial behavior prevents the manifestation of dominance. Unlike females, males are very aggressive towards other members of the pride, especially during food intake. The lack of dominant behavior among females may have made the process of raising offspring easier, since females cannot influence the reproduction of other female members of the pride. On the other hand, the mutualistic benefits of co-parenting have reduced the propensity to form a hierarchy in the pride.
Lions have the ability to inflict wounds and even kill other lions during an encounter in a fight. Fighting a male of the same age and gender not only endangers the life of one individual, but there is also the possibility of injuring an important member of the team, who can later protect the pride from danger.
The behavior of lions from the Serengeti National Park, located in Tanzania, has been continuously studied since 1966. Studies have shown that lions form groups according to various reasons, not taking into account the increase in efficiency during the hunt. Since lions live in more populated areas than other big cats, they need to cooperate with their own kind to protect their territories from being swallowed up by other lions. In addition, lionesses synchronously reproduce offspring and form fairly stable groups that protect lion cubs from infanticide. Finally, small prides tend to be more outgoing than other large prides in order to defend their territories as a large group.
Territories inhabited by lions big variety mammals (prey), in open places There are about 12 lions per 100 square kilometers. In areas with sufficient prey, lions sleep about twenty hours a day. They become most active at the end of the day. Hunting often falls at night and early in the morning.
Lions have a greeting ritual: they rub their head and tail along the air ring against each other, while making a sound similar to a groan.
Communication and perception
Lions have a cognitive ability to recognize people and interact with other lions which helps them survive. They use visual cues in these connections. For example, the mane is believed to act as a copulation signal and indicate the suitability of the male. (The growth rate of the mane is mainly controlled by testosterone.)
Males regularly mark their territory by spraying urine over vegetation and wiping trees with their sides. Females rarely do this. This behavior in lions begins after two years. This type of marking is chemical and visual.
Males begin to growl after a year, and females a little later. The roar of the male is louder and deeper than the females. Lions can roar at any moment, but usually they do it standing or crouching a little. The roar serves to protect the territory, communicate with other members of the pride, and also as a demonstration of aggression towards enemies. Lions also roar in unison, perhaps a form of social bonding.
Finally, lions use tactile communication. Males show physical aggression during the pride management period. During the greeting of the members of the pride, the bodies of two individuals come into contact. A physical bond exists between a lactating female and her offspring.
Food
Lions are predatory animals. As a rule, they hunt in groups, but there are also loners. Often, lions dump prey larger than themselves. It is more difficult for males to disguise themselves because of their pronounced physique than for females, therefore, in the pride, females carry out most capture of prey. Males during feeding behave more aggressively than females, although, most likely, they did not kill the victim.
African lions feed on the most common large ungulates (Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), zebra (Equus burchellii), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)). Individual prides tend to have a preference for certain animals, such as the buffalo. (Syncerus caffer) and . Lions that are unable to capture large prey may temporarily feed on birds, rodents, ostrich eggs, fish, amphibians and reptiles. Lions can also eat up after hyenas and vultures.
In the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, local lions feed on 7 species of animals: zebras (Equus burchellii), wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Thomson gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii), buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), cow antelope (Alcelaphus buselaphus) and swamp antelopes (Damaliscus lunatus).
Hunting becomes more effective during group attacks. Studies in the Serengeti have shown that an individual succeeds in hunting about 17% of cases, while the group - 30%.
Threats
Adult lions have no threats among animals, but are persecuted by humans. Lions often kill and compete with other predators - leopards (Panthera pardus) and . spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) have been known to kill lion cubs, as well as young, weak, or sick individuals.
Abandoned for some time, cubs can become victims of other large predators. However, infanticide is the main threat to little lions.
Poaching is the main threat to lions. These animals are attacked from firearms and also fall into wire traps. Since lions can feed on carrion, they are particularly vulnerable to deliberately poisoned carcasses. In some national parks in Africa, poachers hunt. An estimated 20,000 lions were killed by poachers in the Serengeti National Park in the 1960s. Trophy hunting is allowed at 6 African countries.
Role in the ecosystem
Lions are the main predators in their territory. It is not yet clear how lions regulate the populations of their prey. Some studies have shown that the distribution of potential prey over a certain area plays a more significant role in regulating animal populations than in the diet of lions.
Economic importance for humans
positive
Lions have a glamorous look and are well known all over the world. The lion is the symbol of England and is considered to be one of the most highly valued animal species. economic benefit ecotourism in Africa. These cats are the subject of many documentary and research papers.
negative
People are afraid of lion attacks both on themselves and on their livestock. In most cases, this is not a big problem. Historically, lions coexisted with the Maasai tribes and their cows in eastern Africa. When food supply is plentiful, lions usually do not attack livestock. In addition, if a lion sees a walking person, as a rule, he changes his direction in the opposite direction.
There are known cases of lion attacks on humans. For example, man-eating lions from Tsavo killed 135 construction workers. These events became the basis of the historical adventure film "The Ghost and the Dark" by Stephen Hopkins. As lions lose their habitats, they are more likely to enter settlements thus creating new conflicts and potential attacks on people.
Feline immunodeficiency virus is common in lions (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, FIV) which is similar to HIV. In Tanzania's Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Parks, as well as in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, 92% of the lions tested were found to be infected. This disease does not adversely affect the health of animals, but for domestic cats it can be fatal.
conservation status
barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) and cape lion (Panthera leo melanochaita) are two extinct subspecies of the African lion. The African lion population has declined significantly in West Africa and other African countries. If there are no corridors between the reserves, it will most likely become a problem.
Asian lions (Panthera leo persica) limited to one population, live in the Gir forest reserve of India. The population size is about 200 mature individuals. This subspecies is listed as endangered. The Asiatic lion population is in dire need of restoration. Threats to the inhabitants of the Gir forest come from humans and livestock in close proximity, as well as from habitat degradation.
Some small populations of lions are in need of genetic control for continued survival and conservation of the species. For example, in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi park in Natal, there are 120 individuals that have been bred from just three lions since 1960. In 2001, scientists used methods artificial insemination to rejuvenate the gene pool of these South African lions. This process is quite complex and energy intensive. Inbred populations could also be introduced into entire prides in a given area (whereby conflict between existing and introduced lions would be minimized).
Subspecies
Asian lion
Asian lion (Pantheraleopersica), also known as the Indian lion or Persian lion, is the only subspecies in India, in the state of Gujarat. This subspecies is listed in the IUCN Red List due to its insignificant population. The number of lions in the Gir forest is steadily growing. The number of individuals has more than doubled, from a low of 180 in 1974 to 411 as of April 2010. Of these: 97 adult males, 162 adult females, 75 adolescents and 77 cubs.
For the first time, the Asiatic lion was described by the Austrian zoologist Johann N. Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo persicus. The Asiatic lion is one of five large feline species such as the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Snow Leopard and clouded leopard, found in India. Previously, the Asiatic lion lived on the territory of Persia, Israel, Mesopotamia, Balochistan, from Sindh in the west and to Bengal in the east, from Rampur and Rohilkhand in the north to Nerbuddah in the south. It differs from the African lion in having less swollen auditory capsules, a larger tassel at the end of the tail, and a less developed mane.
The brightest external difference serves as a longitudinal fold on the abdomen. Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions. Adult males weigh from 160 to 190 kg, and females - 110-120 kg. The height at the withers is about 110 centimeters. The length of the body of an Asiatic lion, including the tail, is on average 2.92 m. The mane of males grows on the top of the head, so their ears are always visible. In small numbers, the mane is seen on the cheeks and neck, with a length of only 10 cm in these places. About half of the Asiatic lions from the forest of Gir have a divided infraorbital foramen, while African ones have only one opening on both sides. The sagittal crest of Asiatic lions is more developed than that of African lions. The length of the skull in males varies from 330 to 340 mm, in females from 292 to 302 mm. Compared to the African lion population, the Asiatic lion has fewer genetic variations.
barbary lion
barbary lion (Panthera leo leo), sometimes referred to as the Atlas lion, was part of the African lion population, believed to be extinct in wild nature starting from the middle of the 20th century. The last wild Barbary lions are believed to have died or been killed in the 1950s and early 1960s. The last video recordings with the participation of the Barbarian lion date back to 1942. Filming took place in the west of the Maghreb, near the Tizi n "Tichka" pass.
The Barbarian lion was first described by the Austrian zoologist Johann Nepomuk Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo barbaricus, based on a typical member of the Barbarian subspecies.
The Barbary lion has long been considered one of the largest representatives of lions. Museum specimens of the male Barbary lion are described as having dark and long-haired manes that extended over the shoulder and belly area. The length of the body of the male ranged from 2.35-2.8 m, and the females - about 2.5 m. In the 19th century, a hunter described a large male, allegedly reaching a length of 3.25 meters, including a 75-centimeter tail. In some historical sources, the weight of wild males was indicated 270-300 kg. But the accuracy of these measurements can be questioned, and the sample size of captive Barbary lions is too small to conclude that they were the largest subspecies of lions.
Before it was possible to study the genetic diversity of the lion population, the distinctive color and size of the mane was considered a strong reason to distinguish these big cats into a separate subspecies. The results of long-term studies of lions in the Serengeti National Park show that various factors, such as environmental temperature, nutrition and testosterone levels, have a direct effect on the color of a lion and the size of its mane.
Barbary lions can have long-haired manes due to the ambient temperature in the Atlas Mountains, which is much lower than in other African regions, especially during winter. Thus, the length and density of the mane is not considered as appropriate evidence that the lion belongs to its ancestors. The results of a mitochondrial DNA study published in 2006 contributed to the identification of unique Barbary lion haplotypes found in museum specimens believed to be descended from Barbary lions. The presence of this haplotype is considered a reliable molecular marker for identifying Barbary lions that have survived in captivity.
Lions from western and central Africa are believed to be smaller than lions from southern Africa. There are also suggestions that they have smaller manes, live in small groups, and have a distinctively shaped skull. In where West African lions live, almost all males do not have manes or they are mild.
The West African lion is distributed in western Africa, south of the Sahara, from Senegal to the Central African Republic in the east.
Lions are rare in western Africa and therefore may be endangered. In 2004, the population of West African lions numbered 450-1300 individuals. In addition, there were about 550-1550 lions in Central Africa. In both regions, the area historically occupied by lions decreased by 15% in 2004.
A recent study that took place between 2006 and 2012 found that lion numbers have declined even more in West Africa. Only about 400 individuals remained in the territory between Senegal and Nigeria.
Congo lion, or Northeast Congo lion, or North Congo lion (Panthera leo azandica), also known as the Ugandan lion, has been proposed as a subspecies from northeastern Belgian Congo and western Uganda.
In 1924, the American zoologist Joel Azaf Allen introduced the trinomen Leo leo azandicus, in which he described a specimen of a male lion, as a typical representative of the subspecies, which was kept in the American Museum natural history. This male was killed in 1912 by museum staff as part of a zoological collection that consisted of 588 carnivores. Allen admits a close relationship with the Massai lion (Panthera leo nubica), which is expressed in the similarity of the cranial and dental characteristics, but noted with the statement that his typical specimen differed in coat color.
Congolese lions were previously found in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the western part of Uganda, in the southeast of the Central African Republic, including in some regions of South Sudan. Previously, they lived in Rwanda. They are the largest apex predators of the savannas, where lions hunt and feed on zebras and antelopes. They can also be found in meadows and forests.
Like other African lions, the population of the Congolese subspecies is currently rapidly declining, due to habitat loss and a decrease in the number of potential prey.
Northeast Congolese lions are found in various national parks in the Belgian Congo, Uganda such as Kabarega, Virunga and national park Queen Elizabeth. They used to live in the national parks of Rwanda until they died from poison during the genocide and after it.
Masai lion or East African lion (Panthera leo nubica), a subspecies of lions that lives in eastern Africa. A typical pattern is described as "Nubian". This subspecies includes the previously recognized subspecies " massaica", which originally lived in the territory of Tanganyika, in East Africa.
Oscar Rudolf Neumann first described the Massai lion as an animal with a less round muzzle, with long legs and less flexible backs than other subspecies. Males have moderate tufts of hair on knee joints, and their manes look like combed back.
Male East African lions, as a rule, have a body length with a tail of 2.5-3.0 m. Lionesses are usually smaller, only 2.3-2.6 m. The weight of males is 145-205 kg, and females - 100-165 kg. Lions, regardless of gender, have a height at the withers of 0.9-1.10 m.
Male Masai lions have a wide range of mane types. Mane growth directly depends on age: older males have wider manes than younger males; manes grow until they reach the age of 4-5 years, then the lions reach sexual maturity. Males that live at altitudes above 800 meters have more massive manes than individuals living in the warm and humid lowlands of eastern and northern Kenya. Such lions with more sparse manes or no manes at all.
This subspecies is relatively common and well protected in large protected areas such as the Serengeti Mara ecosystem.
Southwestern lions are one of the largest subspecies. Males have a body length of 2.5-3.1 m along with a tail, and females - 2.3-2.65 m. The weight of males is 140-242 kg, and females - 105-170 kg. The height at the withers is 0.9-1.2 m.
Like all African lions, Katanga lions prey mainly on large animals such as warthogs, zebras, and wildebeest. Males tend to have lighter manes than lions of other subspecies.
There is a small population of these lions in captivity. 29 lions of this subspecies are registered with the International Species Information System. Southwestern lions are descended from animals that were captured in Angola and Zimbabwe. However, the purity of the bloodline of these captive lions cannot be verified. Genetic analysis indicates that they may be descended from lions from West or Central Africa.
Males tend to have a well developed mane. Most of them are black. The body length of males varies between 2.6-3.2 m, and females - 2.35-2.75 m. The weight of males reaches 15-250 kg, and females - 110-182 kg. Height at the withers - 1.92-1.23 m.
White lions have a rare color mutation, they belong to the Transvaal lions. Leucism occurs only in these lions, but is rare. They live in several nature reserves and zoos around the world.
According to recent genetic research, the extinct Cape lion, previously identified as a separate subspecies, did not differ significantly from the South African subspecies. Therefore, the Cape lion represented the southern population of the Transvaal lion.
Over 2,000 individuals of this subspecies are well protected in the Kruger National Park. In addition, about 1,000 lions are registered with the International Species Information System. These animals are descendants of lions captured in South Africa.
As with the Barbary lion, there is a lot of confusion due to the dark colored mane in captive animals. The dark mane is the result of breeding and crossing lions captured long ago in Africa. Mixing of subspecies contributed to hybridization, so most modern lions in captivity, they have mixed alleles of representatives of different subspecies.
Early authors justified the allocation of a separate subspecies by the presence of a fixed morphology in animals. The males had huge mane, extending beyond the shoulders and covering the abdomen and ears, as well as distinctive black tassels. However, it has now been proven that such external characteristics dependent on ambient temperature and other factors. The results of a mitochondrial DNA study published in 2006 do not support the isolation of a separate subspecies.
Cape lions preferred to hunt large ungulates such as antelopes, zebras, giraffes and buffaloes. They also killed donkeys and cattle belonging to European settlers. The cannibals were usually old lions with bad teeth.
Cape black-maned lions lived in southern Africa, but since they were not the only representatives of lions in the southern territories, it is difficult to determine the exact range of habitat. Their stronghold was the Cape, near Cape Town. One of last representatives, who lived in the province, was killed in 1858, and in 1876 the Czech explorer Emil Golub bought a young lion, who died two years later.
The Cape Lion disappeared so quickly after contact with Europeans that habitat destruction can hardly be considered a significant factor. Dutch and English settlers, hunters and sportsmen simply destroyed the lions.
Ecology
Main:
Known for being some of the only truly social cats, lions prefer to lead a nomadic lifestyle and live in groups called prides, and leadership in these groups is mainly held by females.
Lions have golden fur, while males have a shaggy mane that varies in color from light to reddish or even black. Coat color depends on the lion's age, genetics and hormone levels.
Adult male lions can reach a length of up to 3 meters and usually weigh between 150 and 250 kilograms, while females are slightly smaller - a maximum of 2.7 meters in length and weigh about 120-180 kilograms. The tail of a lion can reach a length of 0.6-1 meter. Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than their African relatives.
The body of a lion is ideally suited for hunting: they are strong and fit, have powerful front legs and jaws that help them kill prey.
Lions mainly feed on large animals, such as zebras and wildebeests. They do not disdain to take prey from other predators - hyenas and leopards. The most important hunters of the pride are females.
Lionesses mate every 2 years and can give birth to 1 to 6 cubs at once 3.5 months after conception. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of lion cubs die in their first year of life. Pride females help each other care for their offspring.
In the wild, male lions live an average of 12 years, and females 15 years. In the zoo, lions can live longer - more than 20 years.
Up to 40 lions can live in a pride, including adult females, juvenile lions (2-4 years old) and 1-2 adult males. Females remain in their mother's pride for life unless food shortages cause the pride to split. Males are driven out of the pride when they get old in order to compete with younger rivals.
Males travel first with the whole group, which consists of his relatives, and then look for another pride to join. Usually males live in one pride for 2-3 years.
Males and females mark their territories with urine, and also drive away rivals with their menacing roar.
Where do they live?
Once upon a time, lions lived throughout Europe, Africa and North America, but today they can be found mainly in Africa - from the southern edge of the Sahara desert to the northern part of South Africa. The habitat is savannas.
A small population of lions - about 300 individuals - lives in the Gir forest in western India.
Guard status: the African lion is vulnerable, the Asiatic lion is critically endangered
Lion populations are suffering from human preying and territory taking, and lions are threatened by diseases that can be transmitted from domestic dogs in neighboring villages.
Over the past 2 decades, the lion population in Africa has halved by different reasons, including the punitive measures of farmers: lions encroach on livestock.
Human intervention in the habitat of Asiatic lions has endangered their population in the Gir forest.
The closest relatives of lions are tigers, with which lions can interbreed in captivity. As a result, hybrids of these cats are born - a liger and a tiger.
Lions are the second largest cat in terms of size (after tigers).
The menacing roar of a lion can be heard for 8 kilometers in the savannah.
The lion's mane helps the lion defend itself during fights.
Lions can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, chasing prey, although they can cover short distances. The lion's jump reaches 11 meters.
Asiatic lions have a more sparse mane than African relatives, and on the abdomen they have a characteristic skin fold. The ears of African lions are hidden in the mane, while those of Asiatic lions stick out of the mane.
During the mating season, lions may mate 20-40 times a day.
As mentioned above, lions mainly live on grassy plains and in rare bushes. In such places, antelopes, gazelles, zebras and other ruminant artiodactyls are usually found, which are the main prey of lions. Lions also love to feast on the meat of African warthogs and can guard them for hours. As soon as the boar appears from the hole, the lions rush at him, and if he makes an attempt to return back to the hole, then the lions, tearing the ground with their claws, do not allow this. The lion is omnivorous and if it is very hungry, it does not disdain both fish and even carrion. The lion also hunts large animals such as a giraffe or a buffalo. But it is not easy to cope with such prey alone, therefore, lions are most often hunted by a pride. Hunting is not safe and in such battles lions can get seriously injured, which can generally lead to injury and even inability to hunt. At nightfall, the lions come out to hunt. Darkness gives a chance to sneak up on the victim unnoticed to make a decisive jump. Lions begin to watch their prey before dark, shortly before sunset, and after waiting for darkness, they attack. If the night is moonlit, then the lions patiently wait for the moon to disappear behind the clouds. Lions are very patient predators and hunting is often unsuccessful. The hunt is among white day in general, it is rarely successful, because in the savannas and on the plain the lion has practically nowhere to hide. Animals, as soon as they notice lions, run away at full speed - who wants to become a dinner for a lion. Lions living in areas with dense and high vegetation are more likely to be successful in hunting. Often the sun helps the lions, After all, on sultry hot days, all animals gather for a drink to a river or lake, in a word, Yu to a source of water. And then the lions will not be confused. Hiding nearby in dense grass or in the bushes, they look out for the victim and attack at the slightest opportunity.
For lions, it is of great importance acute vision. They see perfectly both during the day and at night. The lion, following the victim, slowly approaches, sometimes freezes. His eyes are constantly following all the movements of the victim. Sometimes he has to stick his head out of the grass. to correctly estimate the distance at which the victim is from him. Sometimes the animal notices the lion in time and hides, and the lion is left without salty slurping. But if everything goes well, then the lions safely sneak up and attack the victim. All actions of the lion are clear and coordinated due to his excellent eyesight. Also, his acute hearing plays an important role in the success of the hunt. It is especially valuable at night. Lions do not rely much on their sense of smell when hunting. When satiated, lions can sleep for a very long time and very soundly - run at this moment even a herd of antelopes past him - he will not hear. Often lions hunt with the whole pride. Several lions slowly walk around the herd, forcing individual animals that could not stand the tense situation to run out of the herd to a place where other lions of this pride are already waiting for them. Of course, such a hunt is successful and there is practically no chance for animals to escape. The lion cannot run fast for long distances - they lack stamina, so group hunting compensates for this shortcoming. Despite mistakes during the hunt - either it looks out of time, or it does not take into account the direction of the wind - lions get enough food for subsistence. Lions do not cause great damage to the population of artiodactyl animals and there is no reason to worry about the disappearance of these animals as a species. Lions have little effect on the population size. Only having dealt with their prey, the lions immediately begin to divide, leaving behind only bones. If the prey turned out to be very large, then the lion hides the excess in a secluded place to eat later.