- Lions are found mainly in parts of Africa south of the Sahara.
- The lion is a well-muscled, deep-chested cat with a long body, large head, short legs and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail.
- The lion’s coat is short and varies in colour from buff yellow, orange-brown, or silvery grey to dark brown. The colours of the underparts are generally lighter
- The male’s outstanding characteristic is his mane, which varies between different individuals and populations. It starts growing when lions are about a year old
- A full-grown male stands about 1.2 meters high at the shoulder
- The lion is the most social of all wild cat species, living in groups of related individuals with their offspring
- The lion has been one of the best-known wild animals since earliest times.
- Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk
- They usually live in groups of 15 or more animals
- Female lions do 85-90% of the hunting. Groups of female lions typically hunt together
- Both males and females defend the pride against intruders, but the male lion is better-suited for this purpose due to its stockier, more powerful build
- Lions are most active at night and live in a variety of habitats
- A male’s loud roar usually heard after sunset, can carry for as far as eight kilometres (five miles)
- In the wild, lions live for an average of 12 years and up to 16 years.
