Lion - (One of The Big 5) |
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Unique Features
The male lion's mane is not just ornamental, it also identifies it as a male to other lions, and the mane acts as a shield against blows and bites which are absorbed in the thick matted hair of the mane. It also makes the male lion look much larger and more threatening. The upper lips of lions have rows of black spots from which the whiskers grow. These spots are different and unique in every lion, like human fingerprints. Lions are good jumpers and swimmers and are also able to climb trees. They use trees escape from aggressive buffalo. Males continue to grow until the age of 7 years, and females grow until the age of 10. The life expectancy for males is nine years, and for a female fourteen years. Predators Healthy adult lions have no natural predators, although old or sick adults may be attacked and killed by groups of hyenas. Hyenas and leopards are a lion cubs most dangerous predators. Lion cubs are silent and hide in their mother's absence and only play when near a lioness. Territories Lions are sociable to a limited extent and may survive very well as solitary animals. They either belong to a pride - which defends their territory - or roam alone in the territory of other prides. A pride is generally comprised of a group of related females with their cubs of various ages, and a number of adult males. The size of a pride's territory may vary from 20 - 400 square kilometers, depending on the availability of food and water. Prides patrol and mark their territories with squirts of urine against tree trunks and by rubbing their hind paws in the urine so that the scent of it is spread as they patrol their territory. Mating Males are attracted to females in estrous (ready to mate) by the scent in their urine. Whichever male finds the female first will mate with her. A male will stay with the female for up to four days and then leave. When one male leaves, another male takes his place. Females often mate with more than one male. Leadership There are no real leaders among a pride of lions. All lions fight for their rights and will submit only to a stronger lion.When the pride is on the move it is usually led by a female, followed by the other females and the cubs. The males usually follow at the rear. Communication Lions communicate with each other by making a variety of sounds. Cubs miaow and lions purr, hiss, or grunt when calling cubs. Coughing and growling are threatening sounds. Lions often roar before dawn to affirm their territory and to call scattered members of the pride. Cubs Lion cubs have no teeth at birth. The female lioness carries her litter gently in her mouth and keeps them apart from the rest of the pride until their are strong - usually 6-8 weeks old. All mothers in the pride suckle any cub, no matter who it belongs to. The cubs are weaned at the age of 8-9 months. By the age of 5 months, they begin to follow the lionesses on the hunt, learning to stalk and sitting quetly out of sight, observing and learning. Cubs begin to make small kills of their own at a year old, but intil they are approximately two years old, they still need the help of an adult to bring down medium-sized prey. When male cubs reach the age of two to three years, they either leave the pride voluntarily or are expelled. Females may live with the pride until they die - unless there are not enough food resources to sustain the growing pride. In that case they will also leave. Often a group of 2-6 male cubs from the same pride become lifelong friends, travelling and hunting together. The Hunt Being lazy by nature, lions will eat wherever and whatever they can - whether fresh or rotten. In a pride, it is the lioness who does most of the hard work of hunting. Male lions often drop back to the rear when the hunt begins and remain out of sight until the kill is done. Once a kill is made the males often drive away the females and hog the spoils for themselves. If the kill is small, whichever male gets there first keeps it all to himself, snarling and growling at any other male who comes near. When the pride is hunting, the cubs are left behind either on their own, or with one adult. Once all the adults have eaten their fill, the cubs are fetched. Sometimes the males allow the cubs to feed with them off the carcase. |