Protect Lions
To date, there are only about 20 000 lions in the wild.
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The King of the Beasts’ roar can be heard at a distance of 5 miles.
The King of the Beasts! This phrase is sufficient for everyone to know what animal is meant. The Lion (Panthera leo) is the second largest feline, after the Tiger. To date, there are about 20 000 lions in the wild. According to the IUCN, the Lion has been listed as vulnerable since 1996.
His Majesty, the Lion. Source: Unsplash
The Lion is a well-muscled big cat with a long body, big head, round ears and short legs. Males have a significant feature – the mane. It can vary in size and color in different individuals and populations. The Lion is one of the **Big Five **of African animals. The other four are: Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and African Buffalo.
Lions typically inhabit pastures and savannas, and are rarely found in dense forests. They are more diurnal animals than the other wild cats.
Size and appearance vary widely between the sexes and vary across all habitats. Males reach a length of 72 - 82 in. and females 63 - 72 in. Males measure 32.5 - 36.8 inches at shoulder height, and females 28.3 - 35.2 inches. There are big differences in the weight of individuals, according to localities. Males from South Africa weigh up to 496 lb., from East Africa 386 lb. and from India up to 420 lb. Females weigh much less. Lionesses from South Africa weigh up to 316.4 lb., from East Africa 263 lb. and from India up to 260 lb.
Comparison of sizes of Lion, Lioness and human. Source: viaGood
Lion Mane Probably the best known feature of this species in males is the mane. It starts to grow when the Lion is about 1 year old. The color of the mane changes and darkens with age. Studies show that the color and size are influenced by environmental factors, e.g. average temperature, and also by genetic predisposition and testosterone levels. In the Serengeti National Park, lionesses prefer males with thick, dark manes. The Asian Lion usually has a thinner mane than the African Lion.
In the past, lions were found throughout Africa, much of Asia, Europe, and even America (they became extinct there approx. 11 000 years ago). Today, lions occur only in Africa and in a small part of India.
Historical and current distribution of the Lion. Source: viaGood
Subspecies Lion subspecies have long aroused passionate debate, and scientists have been unable to agree on their numbers. By 2017, about a dozen of them had been recognized. **In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the Cat Specialist Group **revised the taxonomy of the Lion and, based on research, identified only two subspecies:
Lion with cub. Source: Wikipedia
Panthera leo leo This was referred to as the "Northern Lion" and is a subspecies living in West, North and Central Africa and India. In West Africa, there are only fragmented and isolated groups with a declining number of individuals (currently about 250). According to the IUCN Red List, it is critically endangered. In India, only a small population (about 650 lions) is restricted to the Gir Forest National Park in the forested state of Gujarat.
It is regionally extinct in The Gambia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Serengeti and Maasai Mara National Parks and Selous Game Reserve are lion strongholds in East Africa with stable lion populations. Source: Wikipedia
Panthera leo melanochaita This subspecies of Lion lives in South and East Africa. Since the turn of the 21st century, when lion populations have been strictly protected in reserves in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, numbers have increased. Unfortunately, this subspecies did not do so well everywhere and is regionally extinct in Lesotho, Djibouti and Eritrea.
The black-maned lion, also called Kalahari Lion, is protected in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa and Botswana. This Park, with an area of 14 668 square miles, is home to about 40 Kalahari Lion prides.
An adolescent lion in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Source: Wikipedia
White Lion White Lions are not a special species of Lion. This is the color deviation of a subspecies from South Africa (Panthera leo melanochaita). It is a rare genetic condition called leucism. It is not an Albino, because it has normal pigmentation of the eyes and skin.
Range map of two lion subspecies (P. l. Leo and P. l. Melanochaita) according to genetic research. Source: viaGood
Social Behavior The Lion is the most social of all wild species of felines and lives in groups of related individuals with their offspring. Such a group is called a "pride". The average pride consists of about 15 lions. It is usually formed by related lionesses and their cubs, plus a male, or a small group of males who defend the pride. Lionesses care for their cubs together and any female can breastfeed them. Large prides, consisting of up to 30 lions, have been observed. Young males are excluded from the maternal pride at about 2 - 3 years of age, i.e. when they reach adulthood.
Did you know… lions spend most of their lives resting - up to 20 hours per day?
Lunchtime in Masai Mara Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya. Source: Unsplash
Prey and Hunting Larger mammals, such as Antelope, Wildebeest, Buffalo and Zebra become the lions’ prey. In India, the prey is mainly deer, but also smaller animals such as hares and birds. Lions do not reject the carcasses of animals that have been killed by other animals. There are known cases where extreme hunger has led a lion to kill baby elephants. In a convenient situation and with properly coordinated hunting, a lion can knock down even the tallest living land creature, the Giraffe. A lion can eat up to 80 lb. of meat – about one-quarter of its body weight.
**Did you know… lions can live in very dry areas such as the Kalahari Desert. There they obtain most of their fluids from prey, or from the Tsamma watermelon. **
Lions hunt in packs. Seemingly, only lionesses hunt, but the truth is that also males hunt quite actively, with a different strategy. Males hunt alone and do not need to cooperate. They usually go hunting at dusk. Like other felines, lions have very good eyesight. According to serious scientific research, a lion can develop speeds of up to 37 mph.
Lion’s roar can be heard from a distance of 5 miles. Source: Unsplash
Lion’s Roar Lions are the only known species of cat where individuals roar together. They are even joined by cubs with their meowing. The sequence usually lasts for approximately 40 seconds. A pride often roars as a warning to mark its territory. The roar can be heard from a distance of 5 miles.
Did you know… the volume of a lion’s roar is 114 db? It is only 4 db less than the average human pain threshold.
Lion as a Symbol The Lion is one of the most recognized animal symbols in human culture. It is commonly depicted on sculptures and paintings, on national flags and in literature. Lions have been kept in menageries since the Roman Empire and have been one of the cornerstones of every Zoo since the end of the 18th century.
In mere 3 generations, the number of lions in the wild has fallen by 40 %.
What are the main threats that lions are facing? There are many, unfortunately.
Targeted Poaching In certain parts of Africa, targeted hunting of lions for their body parts, such as skins, claws, teeth and bones, is on the rise. These products mostly supply the growing Asian market.
Trophy Hunting A huge problem is the rich hunters who go to Africa to hunt the King of Beasts. From 2015 to 2020 alone, hunters killed 6 000 lions. If we take into account the fact that there are only about 20 000 lions left in the world, then this number is really shocking! In some countries, lions are especially chosen as targets for trophy hunting. The cubs are then used in the tourism industry as an attraction for photographers.
Conflict between Man and Lion Due to the population explosion, an increasing area is being used for cattle breeding. Conflict between lions and humans occurs when lions attack and kill cattle, which of course leads farmers to retaliate by killing lions. Such retaliation is carried out in its worst form, using a poison that can kill a whole pride and many other species – from elephants to vultures to wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs.
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Human settlements and the development of new infrastructures are gradually leaving smaller and more isolated strips of wilderness to be inhabited by lions and their prey. This makes it impossible for lions to move and hunt safely. At the same time, it limits the genetic diversity of the lion population and this leads to inbreeding and greater vulnerability to diseases and other threats.
Trade in Bushmeat Bushmeat (the meat of African wild animals as food) does not threaten the lion by it ending up on a plate. However, lions are directly and indirectly affected by this trade. Bushmeat trade is the commercial sale of meat obtained from illegal poaching of wildlife, such as antelope. This poaching is often done, using wire lures placed along water and feed paths to maximize animal capture. In the past, hunting served only for the livelihood of locals, but today animals are hunted for illegal sale to luxury restaurants. Bushmeat affects lions in two ways – it dramatically reduces the population of animals that are the source of food for lions, and also by directly killing lions that are inadvertently caught in wire traps intended for other animals.
Traditional Killing of Lions In some parts of Africa, lions are killed by local people during ceremonies and boy-to-man rituals, to show their bravery.
The way to save lions depends on the work with local communities.
Due to the human population explosion, providing sufficient space for individual animal species plays a big role – and lions are no exception. What can we do to help save lions in wildlife?
Reducing Human Conflict Lions often prey on cattle on farms, for their food. In effect, lions come into conflict with man. To prevent this, it is possible to use guard dogs to protect cattle herds and chase away lions. During night attacks, strong sensor-activated lights that scare predators can act as a simple protection.
Building and Protection of Reserves Current reserves and parks have a limited capacity, so it is necessary, together with governments and private owners, to expand these protected areas, where lions are protected from conflicts with humans.
Protection of Lions from Trophy Hunting and Poaching Having a photo taken with a cute lion cub or shooting a lion for a trophy are part of the big tourist business. Stricter laws and tougher sanctions are needed to prevent this from happening. That is why the involvement of governmental and non-governmental institutions such as TRAFIC is crucial.
Monitoring and Relocating Lions Monitoring the movement of lions is important, so as to ensure their protection. The use of camera traps and surveillance devices helps to assess the quality of the population and evaluate possible risks from poachers, local farmers and other predators. Specific individuals are also chosen and relocated to other habitats to ensure genetic variability in the population.
Education Education also plays a key role in protecting lions. Better informed locals can better understand the role of the Lion in the wild, increasing the need to protect the Lion as an essential part of their natural wealth.
Everyone can get involved. How can YOU help?
- Never stroke a lion cub. It will almost always be a cub that has been removed from its mother.
- Never buy anything made from a lion's body parts (or parts of any other wild animals).
- Spread information on social networks and among your friends. You'll be amazed at how many people have no idea how endangered the Lion is.
- Find a non-profit organization and support its work to protect the Lion. TIP: If you are able to go on safari to e.g. South Africa or Botswana, visit one of the protected National Parks, where you can observe (and photograph) lions and other wildlife in their natural habitats. Part of the money you spend there will assist in the preservation of the Lion and other endangered animals. This is also a unique education for children, where they will learn much by observing animals as they should all be living, and not through the bars of a Zoo or in a Circus!
