Life Of A Lion

Lions are one of the largest predators in savanna regions, reaching a length of 8 to 9 feet depending on gender and weighing as much as 400 lbs., with females usually being 50 to 100 lbs. lighter. In the wild, lions live an average of 12 years, with females living slightly longer. Out on the plains they can reach speeds of 30 mph when hunting and leap up to 12 feet.

Both gender and climate conditions affect the life cycles of lions. Since both male and female lions live on the hot savanna regions, where desert merges into jungle, they live their lives based on the heat. To conserve energy most lions relax or nap during the hottest parts of the day, seeking seclusion in trees or by water sources. These long periods of rest are followed by bursts of coordinated activity, when the lions gather and hunt nearby herbivores such as zebra. Lions can see in low-light conditions and usually hunt in the evening or at night when conditions are cooler and prey are less aware.

Both gender and climate conditions affect the life cycles of lions. Since both male and female lions live on the hot savanna regions, where desert merges into jungle, they live their lives based on the heat. To conserve energy most lions relax or nap during the hottest parts of the day, seeking seclusion in trees or by water sources. These long periods of rest are followed by bursts of coordinated activity, when the lions gather and hunt nearby herbivores such as zebra. Lions can see in low-light conditions and usually hunt in the evening or at night when conditions are cooler and prey are less aware.

lions, upon reaching maturity, choose whether or not to remain with their current pride. Older females already present will harass them, forcing them into minor fights and making life uncomfortable for the young lions. If the females stand up to such treatment and stay in the pride, they are eventually accepted and become part of a leading male's harem. If they cannot stand the harassment they leave the pride as well and become nomads. These females wander until they are accepted by another pride (a rare occurrence) or become part of a new pride under a nomad male lion.

Once settled down in a secure pride position, lions live the rest of their lives in a predictable cycle. Females provide the backbone of hunting expeditions, using their speed and agility to trap prey while the male lions, when they participate, use their strength and weight to bring larger animals down. Older lions eventually succumb to disease, are killed by a rival or are ousted from the pride in one of the turnovers.

The king of the jungle, forest

Lions have captured our imaginations for centuries. Stars of movies and characters in books, lions are the top of the African food chain. The Swahili word for lion, simba, also means "king," "strong," and "aggressive." The word lion has similar meaning in our vocabulary. If you call someone lionhearted, you’re describing a courageous and brave person. If you lionize someone, you treat that person with great interest or importance.

Lions lying around

A lion’s life is filled with sleeping, napping, and resting. Over the course of 24 hours, lions have short bursts of intense activity, followed by long bouts of lying around that total up to 21 hours! Lions are good climbers and often rest in trees, perhaps to catch a cool breeze or to get away from flies. Researchers have often noticed lions lying around in crazy poses, on their backs with their feet in the air or legs spread wide open!

All for one and one for all

Living in a pride makes life easier. Hunting as a group means there is a better chance the lions will have food when they need it, and it is less likely that they will get injured while hunting. Lion researchers have noticed that some activities are “contagious” in prides. One lion will yawn, or groom itself, or roar, setting off a wave of yawning, grooming, or roaring! Lions and lionesses play different roles in the life of the pride.

A king’s life

While it may look like the lionesses do all the work in the pride, the males play an important role. While they do eat more than the lionesses and bring in far less food (they hunt less than 10 percent of the time), males patrol, mark, and guard the pride’s territory. Males also guard the cubs while the lionesses are hunting, and they make sure the cubs get enough food.

When new males try to join a pride, they have to fight the males already there. The lion’s thick mane protects his neck against raking claws during fights with other males for membership in the pride. The new males are either driven off, or succeed in pushing out the existing males.