Where do lions live? Animals of Africa: a lion. Wild animal lion

Today, there are many stories and legends about the way of life of the king of beasts. But in order to distinguish the truth from the fiction about how and where the lions live, you need to properly understand the matter. After all, among the numerous animals of our planet, these predators are distinguished by extraordinary strength and power. The majestic mane and deafening roar give the lion a truly royal look. And even in the behavior of this animal there are unique royal manners.

Serious predator

Regardless of where the lions live - in the wild or in captivity - they always remain themselves. These are huge strong predators, perfectly owning their mobile, flexible and muscular body. They run very fast and dexterously. These predatory cats possess powerful jaws and large teeth, allowing to keep even such rather big representatives of fauna as antelopes of wildebeest. And with the help of claws to break the booty into pieces for lions is not at all a problem. However, that's not all! It turns out that the language of the beast is studded with spines, which allows him to take good care of his skin, catching fleas and removing ticks.

Of course, a lot depends on what continent a lion lives on: both his way of life, and the variety of food he gets, and even his appearance. Today, in the wild, this animal can be found in Africa and Asia. However, on the planet there is also a namesake of the land predator - the sea lion. And although their names are similar, the animals themselves are very, very different from each other, and it is completely impossible to confuse them.

Lifestyle

Leo - a representative of the cat, who can not blink to look at the sun. For this they call him the king of beasts. The way lions live, how they survive in natural conditions and in the struggle against man deserves due respect and attention.

These predators live in families, so-called prides. They consist, as a rule, of one or two males, several lionesses and lions. Adult lions are busy protecting the pride habitat, since cases of encroachment on the part of single males occur quite often. Lionesses are engaged in hunting and rearing offspring. Lions are playing all day and somersaulting, developing the agility and speed that they will need in the future. The average number of Pride is about twenty individuals.

Lion possessions spread to tens of square kilometers of open spaces, as well as areas covered with thickets.

It is very important that many ungulates are kept in the lions' holdings. After all, the abundance of food of predatory cats depends on their quantity.

The Asian Lion

Where the lions live, which are called Asian, it is not difficult to guess. Their habitats are located on the territory of the Gir Forest in northwestern India. This subspecies of the cat family is also sometimes called Indian, Bengali or Persian.

Asian lions are quite similar to their African counterparts, but much inferior to them in size and body weight. In addition, the wool color varies from reddish-brown to gray and black.

The area of residence of Indian lions is only 1,412 km ² , and it is inhabited by no more than 359 individuals. They hunt these wild cats in low-growing forests alternating with fields. How many live lions in these territories, it is difficult to say. Now most of these lands are gradually being captured by people. The predators had to cede many of their hunting places to them.

Survival of Indian lions

Today, Indian lions have to share their territories not only with people, but also with other wild cats - Indian leopards and Bengal tigers. But several centuries ago they reigned supreme to the very coasts of Greece. There have been occasions when individual individuals meet even along the Don River. According to ancient legends, in the territory of Russia, the last Bengali lion was destroyed by Prince Igor himself in the 10th century.

As early as 1907, these animals remained only thirteen species. But incredible efforts man managed to keep them alive in captivity. In a protected nature reserve, where lions live today, specialists are constantly fighting for the lives of these animals.

African lions

African lions live in Central Africa. To their possessions are the territories of savannahs, containing huge vital watering places. The main ornament of the males of these perfect animals is the mane covering the head, chest and neck. The length of their body reaches 240 cm, and the mass of 230 kg. The height and weight of the lionesses is slightly smaller. The wool of these wild cats is short and dense. Unlike their Asian relatives, the skin color of them varies from light yellow to saturated sand. Man's manes are slightly darker than the main color.

No matter on which continent the lion lives, in Eurasia or Africa, the problem of their destruction by man is the same. After all, about twenty years ago, these African carnivores numbered more than 230,000. Today their number has decreased tenfold. The reason for this is human hostility. Because of the frequent attack of lions on cattle, the population uses poison baits or weapons to combat them. This was the reason for the catastrophic reduction in the number of these animals.

The lifetime of the king of beasts

Speaking about preserving the life of wild cats, one can not help thinking about how many live lions in the wild. However, if we compare these predators with other animals, then their life period is rather small. Unlike lions kept in captivity, in the wild, lions rarely survive to the age of thirty. After all, by the age of fifteen, they are very weak, which prevents them from retaining their power over the family. In addition, many individuals do not live to this age because of fighting with other males. Lionesses have a longer life expectancy.

It is not uncommon for lions to die in fights with crocodiles, which are their only natural and deadly enemies. Between them there is an age-old struggle. If the lion can destroy the crocodile on land, the crocodile will avenge it in the aquatic environment.

Meals Pride

Lion's favorite delicacy is meat. However, it serves as the main food that this animal uses. A lion alone eats about fifteen large animals a year, the average weight of which reaches one hundred kilograms. Interestingly, the main earners of food are lionesses. But when the meal begins, the pride leader comes first to the food. It is he who chooses the most tasty morsel, and the rest is eaten by females and youth. Lunches the lion family once every three days. Each member can eat about eighteen kilograms of meat. After the meal, the pride goes to the watering place. After a solid dinner, the family starts to sleep, which can last about twenty hours.

It is noteworthy that in the habitats and hunting of wild cats, there are always flocks of hyenas or jackals. And often lion prides generously share with them the food they extracted.

Lion Hunt

Most often, lions prey on deer, zebra, antelope, sometimes on giraffes. Other such animals are not an exception. In the daytime, the lion pride tries to rest in the shade, and at nightfall it goes hunting. As a rule, a family of four individuals at least once a week produces for themselves a large animal. The lion, who has a special role during the hunt, frightens and distracts the attention of the victim. His relatives are in ambush, hiding in the grass and slowly creeping. Special bloody work is usually performed by young lions, and the old male manages the overall process.

However, most often lionesses are miners for pride. They surround the animal attracted to them and slowly approach it. Choosing the moment, one of the lionesses with a strong blow of the big paws knocks the victim off his feet and digs into the throat with his teeth. One attack of four ends for hunters successfully. As soon as the lionesses attacked the prey, the lion-male appears in all its glory, which, deftly jumping, can develop a speed of up to 60 km / h.

Reproduction and offspring

Lions are very loving animals. Maybe that's why they multiply at any time of the year. For mating, the male takes his girlfriend away from the place where the lions live. In Africa, unlike Asian kinsmen, the leader can have from four to six lionesses. When the gestation period of the female is three and a half months, she leaves the family to work for the offspring. For this, the lioness chooses a nook in the thick of the bushes.

Lions are born blind and helpless. The skin is covered with spots, which disappear as they grow older. The average number of babies born varies from three to five individuals, but until maturity, no more than half live. They feed on the mother lions milk, but at the age of seven months they start eating meat. To pride kids will join on performance of two months. Adult lions are considered only at the age of five.

Sea lions

Speaking of lions, we can not forget about their water namesakes - sea lions. These pinnipeds, having no resemblance to wild cats, have very much in common with seals. The only difference is that they do not attempt long-range migrations and stay at their shores for the winter. There, where sea lions live, there are no huge territories with luscious greenery, and there are no hot days, as in the savannahs. Almost all these animals live in the cold waters of the northern Pacific Ocean, as well as in the southern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Their places of residence include the coast of North America in the region of the California peninsula, the Galapagos Islands, as well as the southeastern part of the Sea of Japan.

Sea lions eat fish. Sometimes, in order to catch it, they have to dive to a depth of up to ninety meters. Also, the diet of these pinnipeds may include mollusks and crustaceans.