African Lion

For thousands of years lions have been known as the king of beasts for their hunting ability and the male’s kingly mane of fur.  This thick covering of fur grows on male lions and protects them from fights with other lions and teeth, claws and hooves of their prey.  Lions are the second largest cats in the world. 

Physical Description

Lions are very large cats.  They can reach more than 8 feet in length and weigh more than 500 pounds, males are bigger than females.  Lions are normally light brown or tan colored, sometimes they can be very pale yellowish or nearly black in color.  A male lion’s mane can range from blonde to red to black.

Family Life

Female lions normally have 2 or 3 cubs in a litter.  The cubs are born into a family group called a pride.  Between 7 and 25 lions normally live in a pride.  Lions reach their adult size by the age of 2.  Some lions will travel to other prides and some will stay with their own pride.  Normally, male lions protect the pride and female lions hunt for the pride.

Diet

Zebras, wildebeests, impalas, buffalo, young giraffes, young elephants, hares, rodents and reptiles.