Lions do not live in captivity, which means. Lion (Panthera leo)Eng. Lion. Communication and perception

Curious where lions live? Representatives of the cat family excite the minds of residents of different continents. It's so interesting to watch their habits... But, zoos aside, are there many predatory animals left in the wild? It's time to learn more about lions while these mammals live on our planet.

Geographical habitats of lions

Some legends and chronicles indicate that lions in the past were encountered from North Africa, India and Pakistan to Greece and Turkey. Predators could not be found in the places where seals live, but a significant part of Europe and even North America was inhabited by these representatives of the cat. In Northern and Northwestern India, the lion population persisted for a long time, so the inhabitants of the country have always treated this animal with respect.

Constant wars between lion prides, together with human hunting for valuable skins and luxurious manes, took their toll. Gradually, lions were completely exterminated in Greece, then they began to disappear in Turkey, and then it was Iran’s turn. In Africa alone, the population has declined by about 30-50% over the past two decades.

Reasons for the decline in the number of predators on the planet:

Habitat loss. Human intervention in the extinction of animals may be indirect. Subjugation of nature sometimes has many undesirable consequences. Thus, changing the river bed makes farming easier, but destroys the usual flora and fauna downstream of the former water flow. Habitat changes make it impossible for the lion population to expand.

Conflicts with a person. For a long time, the animal’s skin and fluffy mane were in the sights of hunters. But even listing the animal in the Red Book could not completely save the situation. Free hunters were replaced by poachers who sensed the value and demand of the trophy on the “black market.”

In their natural habitat, lions are currently found mainly in southern and eastern Africa (up to 80% of their total population). In the Erlie-Xingu ecosystem (in West Africa) for the years 2002-2004, there were from 850 to 1650 adult individuals. Their habitat occupies almost the entire territory of the continent. south of the desert Sahara.

In India, the only place where predators live freely to this day is the Gir forest. It is located in the west of the country, covering an area of ​​1412 sq. km. In April 2006, 359 adult individuals were counted there. A project to protect the Asiatic lion has been created in India. It is planned to support a second population of these rare animals in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (in the Kuno Nature Reserve).

Where do lions live?

Cat lovers are very rarely interested in where the skunk lives. If lions do not feed on them, then is it worth focusing on small animals? Usually lion prides They hunt mammals whose body weight ranges from 190 to 550 kg. Such food preferences explain the fact that lions inhabit open areas of the savannah.

Predators are in no hurry to enter the forest, because hunting there is difficult. But in the open area, lions like to hide in the shade of several trees. Usually this special types acacias, although tall shrubs can also be chosen.

How long do lions live?

Free. Males very rarely live more than 10 years in open nature. Constant skirmishes with other lions significantly shorten their lifespan. And when a lion’s skin is of interest to poachers, then 10 years seems like a long time.

In nature reserves or safari parks. The relatively natural habitat allows the lifespan of lions to be extended to 10-14 years. Nature reserves differ from ordinary nature only in that they try to protect them from poachers and periodically feed the animals if necessary.

In zoos. Closed area and significantly limited opportunities predator lead to the fact that the animal quite often reaches the twenty-year mark. In captivity, many lions readily breed, so there are no special problems with their maintenance. If you constantly provide proper nutrition and follow safety measures, the large mammal will calmly meet its old age.

In the hall, on the wall we have a large picture of a lion hanging. For a long time I chose between a tiger and a lion, but the choice fell on the king of beasts. It is quite understandable why the lion is called that. His luxurious mane alone is worth it. It even closely resembles a royal crown. Lions look very majestic. I'll tell you a little about the life of these predators.

Where and how do lions live?

Lions are sometimes called wild cats. Indeed, they belong to the cat family. Lions always live in groups. It is also common to call them prides. The life of lions in prides occurs according to certain rules:

• always in pride several females present;
• there is a fixed one behind the group territory;
• Females are responsible for hunting and feeding.

Even a small child can distinguish a lion from other animals. Of course, exactly GRiva is the main one distinctive feature . I think everyone knows that only males have it. And it doesn’t appear for them right away. A lion's full mane is formed only in the 6th year of life.

Lions in the wild found only in Africa and India. Most of them live in African territory. Lions prefer to settle in the savannahs, where a special type of acacia grows, which helps them hide from the heat and sultry sun.

In Africa, lions can be found almost anywhere below the Sahara. In India, these predators remained only in the western part. This area has a name Gir forest. There are very few lions left here, so they are trying to protect them by all means.

Lions in captivity

Lions don't only live in the wild. They can often be found in a zoo, nature reserve and even at the circus. I don’t like the circus, where animals have to participate in performances every day. I don't think they like it. But in the zoo, with good care, lions live very willingly and easily bear offspring. The most important thing is to stick content rules:

• good nutrition;
• no sources of irritation for an animal;
• compliance with safety measures.

It is not at all difficult to keep such a predator, so in almost any zoo you can see an enclosure with a lion. Even in the cold, this animal feels comfortable, since in their permanent habitats the air temperature drops significantly at night.

a lion (lat. Panthera Leo) - carnivorous mammal from the panther family (lat. Panthera), the largest after tigers, a representative of the subfamily big cats (lat. Pantherinae) and a member of the cat family (lat. Felidae).

Description

Lions are large cats with short, yellowish-brown fur and long tails with a black tassel at the end. They are sexually dimorphic, and males are the only ones with a mane. The three-year-old male grows a mane that ranges in color from black to light brown. Manes tend to be thicker on lions living in open area. Adult males weigh about 189 kg; The record holder for the heaviest weight was a male, reaching 272 kilograms. Females weigh on average 126 kg. Average height at the withers of males 1.2 meters, and females - 1.1 meters. The body length ranges from 2.4-3.3 m, and the tail length is 0.6-1.0 m. The longest recorded male lion was 3.3 meters.

Cubs up to 3 months old have brown spots on their grayish fur. These spots can remain throughout the life of a lion, especially representatives East Africa. Albinism may occur in some populations, but there are no published records confirming melanism (black fur) in lions. Adults have 30 teeth, and adult females have 4 mammary glands.

Asiatic lions (P. l. persica) are much smaller in size than African lions and have a less dense mane. Their knees, tail tufts and longitudinal folds of skin on the abdomen are larger than those of African lions. Although Asiatic and African lions have genetic differences, they are no more significant than the genetic differences between human races.

Area

African lions (Panthera Leo) distributed south of the Sahara Desert, with the exception of deserts and tropical forests. Lions were once hunted to extinction in South Africa, but can now be found in the Kruger and Kalahari-Gemsbok national parks, and possibly in some other protected areas. Previously, lions lived in southwest Asia and northern Africa.

Asiatic lions (P. l. persica) belong to the one remaining subspecies in this region. After moving from Greece to central India, Asiatic lions are conserved in the Gir forest and northwestern India.

African lions live in plains or savannas, where there is a large amount of food supply (mainly ungulates) and the opportunity to hide in reliable shelter. In such optimal habitats, lions are the second most common large predator after the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Lions can live in wider ranges, with the exception of deserts. These predators are also adapted to life in forest, bush, mountain and semi-desert areas. Lviv can be found on high altitudes. There is a population of lions that lives in the mountains of Ethiopia at an altitude of 4240 meters.
Asiatic lions live in the trees, shrubs and teak vegetation of the small Gir Forest, India.

Reproduction

Lions breed throughout the year and are generally polygamous animals. It is believed that lions copulate 3,000 times for each cub. One estrus in five results in pregnancy, and lions mate approximately 2.2 times per hour during the four-day estrus period. The main male of the pride has priority for mating with any female. There is usually no competition between males for females.

Males are noticeably larger and more showy, so they control the reproduction of many females during their reign over the pride. They form coalitions with other males to increase their chances of absorbing another pride. Fierce competition among males and the social structure of the pride leads to the killing of cubs of both sexes. The males who dominate the pride usually rule for about 2 years, until another representative, younger and stronger, overthrows his predecessor. Consuming prides through combat and often violence results in serious injury and even death to the loser.

The reproductive advantage of the dominant male is expressed in the killing of small cubs, defeated males. A lioness who has lost her cubs leaves the pride for 2-3 weeks, and then returns during the estrus period. The optimal period between births is considered to be 2 years. Thus, by getting rid of all the small cubs at the moment of absorption of the pride, the males provide themselves with the opportunity to become fathers and take possession of females that were previously inaccessible to them. Females who resolutely defend their offspring during attacks may lose their lives.

Females breed throughout the year, but peak during the rainy season. As a rule, lion cubs are born once every 2 years. However, if the female's offspring dies (mainly with the participation of a lion), then her estrus occurs earlier, and less time passes between pregnancies. Females are able to reproduce at the age of 4 years, and males - at 5 years. A lioness gives birth to 1 to 6 cubs after a 3.5-month pregnancy. There is an interval between pregnancies of about 20-30 months. Newborn kittens weigh from 1 to 2 kg. Eyes, as a rule, open on the 11th day, begin to walk after 15 days, and are capable of running by the age of one month. A lioness guards her cubs for 8 weeks. Lion cubs stop feeding on milk at the age of 7-10 months, but they are very dependent on the adults in the pride, at least until they reach the age of 16 months.

Females are mainly engaged in raising offspring. They not only feed their cubs, but also take care of the young of their relatives from the pride, if the lion cubs have a small age difference. The mortality rate among kittens is low, this is due to the synchronous feeding of milk to young animals from the same pride. If cubs are born to several lionesses at the same time, the entire pride participates in their upbringing. Cubs are often left alone for more than one day at 5-7 months of age. They are most vulnerable during this period and may be attacked by predators (often hyenas). Hungry mothers often abandon weak lion cubs that are not able to keep up with the entire pride. Although males do not care for the offspring, they play an important role in protecting the young from competing males. As long as the male maintains control over the pride, preventing another male from taking over, the risk of infanticide by competitors is reduced.

Lifespan

Females tend to live longer than males (about 15-16 years). Lions are at the peak of their strength between 5 and 9 years of age, with only a small proportion of males surviving after reaching 10 years of age. Some males live up to 16 years in the wild. In the Serengeti, females reach the age of 18 years. In captivity, lions live for about 13 years. The oldest lion lived 30 years.

Adults are not threatened by predators, but are vulnerable to humans, starvation, and attacks from other lions. Infanticide is an important factor in increasing mortality among lion cubs.

Female Asiatic lions live an average of 17-18 years, with a maximum of 21. Male Asiatic lions usually reach the age of 16 years. The mortality rate of adult Asiatic lions is less than 10%. In the Gir Forest, about 33% of cubs die within the first year of life.

Behavior

Prides are the main social structure lion society. Their members can come and leave these groups. The number of lions varies from 2 to 40 individuals. In Kruger and Serengeti National Parks, prides consist of an average of 13 lions. The average composition of these prides is 1.7 adult males, 4.5 adult females, 3.8 juveniles, and 2.8 cubs.

Resident males of prides are immigrants who gained control of the pride by force. In order to successfully take over the family, males form coalitions, usually of brothers. Young men leave their pride when their fathers (or new leaders) begin to view them as competitors, usually at 2.5 years of age. These males are nomadic for two to three years and then form a coalition and look for a pride to conquer. Coalitions of 2 males tend to rule a pride for no more than 2.5 years, which is enough time to produce one generation of cubs. Coalitions of 3-4 males usually rule the pride for more than 3 years. Coalitions of more than 4 males are very rare because large coalitions have difficulty sticking together.

Prides consist of females who are related to each other. They remain to live on their mother's territory. Females do not compete with each other and do not express dominant behavior, as is observed in some matriarchal social systems. Females with family ties They often reproduce synchronously and then cross-feed milk to each other's young. This mutually beneficial behavior prevents dominance. Unlike females, males are very aggressive towards other members of the pride, especially when eating food. The lack of dominant behavior among females may have made raising offspring easier, since females cannot influence the reproduction of other female members of the pride. On the other hand, the mutualistic benefits of co-parenting have reduced the tendency for pride to form hierarchies.

Lions have the ability to injure and even kill other lions when confronted in a fight. Fighting with a male of the same age and sex not only puts the life of one individual at risk, but there is also the possibility of injuring an important member of the team, who will later be able to protect the pride from danger.

The behavior of lions from the Serengeti National Park, located in Tanzania, has been continuously studied since 1966. Research has shown that lions form groups for a variety of reasons, not including increased efficiency during hunting. Because lions live in more populated areas than other big cats, they need to cooperate with their own kind to protect their territories from being consumed by other lions. In addition, lionesses reproduce their offspring synchronously and form fairly stable groups that protect lion cubs from infanticide. Finally, small prides tend to be more sociable than other large prides in order to defend their territories as a large group.

The territories where lions live have a wide variety of mammals (prey), including open places by 100 square kilometers there are about 12 lions. In areas with sufficient prey, lions sleep about twenty hours a day. They become most active at the end of the day. Hunting often occurs at night and early morning.

Lions have a greeting ritual: they rub their head and tail along an air ring against each other, while making a sound similar to a groan.

Communication and perception

Lions have the cognitive ability to recognize people and interact with other lions, which helps them survive. They use visual cues in these connections. For example, the mane is believed to act as a signal for copulation and indicate the suitability of the male. (The rate of mane growth is primarily controlled by testosterone).

Males regularly mark their territory by spraying urine on vegetation and rubbing the sides of trees. Females rarely do this. This behavior in lions begins after two years. This type of marking is chemical and visual.

Males begin to growl after a year, and females a little later. The male's roar is louder and deeper than the female's. Lions can roar at any time, but usually do so while standing or crouching slightly. The roar serves to protect the territory, communicate with other members of the pride, and also as a demonstration of aggression towards enemies. Lions also roar in chorus, perhaps as a form of social communication.

Finally, lions use tactile communication. Males display physical aggression during the period of pride management. When greeting members of the pride, the bodies of two individuals come into contact. A physical connection is present between the nursing female and her offspring.

Nutrition

Lions are predatory animals. As a rule, they hunt in groups, but they are also found alone. Lions often kill their prey bigger size than themselves. Due to their pronounced physique, males have a more difficult time camouflaging than females, so in a pride females do most of the prey catching. Males behave more aggressively during feeding than females, although most likely they were not the ones who killed the prey.

African lions feed on the most common large ungulates (Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), zebra (Equus burchellii), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus)). Individual prides usually have a preference for certain animals, such as buffalo (Syncerus caffer) And . Lions that are unable to capture large prey may temporarily feed on birds, rodents, ostrich eggs, fish, amphibians and reptiles. Lions can also feed on hyenas and vultures.

In the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, local lions feed on 7 species of animals: zebras (Equus burchellii), wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Thomson's gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii), buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), cow antelopes (Alcelaphus buselaphus) and swamp with antelopes (Damaliscus lunatus).

Hunting becomes more effective during group attacks. Studies in the Serengeti have shown that an individual succeeds in hunting about 17% of the time, while the group succeeds 30%.

Threats

Adult lions have no animal threats, but are subject to human persecution. Lions often kill and compete with other predators - leopards (Panthera pardus) And . Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), are known to kill lion cubs, as well as young, weak or sick individuals.

Lion cubs abandoned for a while can become victims of others large predators. However, infanticide is the main threat to baby lions.

Poaching is the main threat to lions. These animals are subject to attacks from firearms, and also fall into wire traps. Because lions can scavenge, they are especially vulnerable when consuming deliberately poisoned carcasses. Some national parks in Africa are haunted by poachers. It is estimated that poachers killed an estimated 20,000 lions in the Serengeti National Park in the 1960s. Trophy hunting is allowed in 6 African countries.

Role in the ecosystem

Lions are the top predators in their territory. It is not yet clear how lions regulate the populations of their prey. Some studies have shown that the distribution of potential prey over a given area plays a more significant role in regulating animal populations than in lion nutrition.

Economic significance for humans

Positive

Leos have a glamorous appearance and are well known throughout the world. The lion is a symbol of England and is considered one of the most highly valued animal species providing economic benefits to ecotourism in Africa. These cats are the subjects of many documentary and scientific research works.

Negative

People are afraid of lion attacks both on themselves and on their livestock. In most cases, this is not a big problem. Historically, lions coexisted with the Maasai tribes and their cows in eastern Africa. When food supply is abundant, lions usually do not attack livestock. In addition, if a lion sees a person walking, as a rule, he changes his direction in the opposite direction.

There are known cases of lions attacking humans. For example, man-eating lions from Tsavo killed 135 construction workers. These events became the basis for the historical adventure film “The Ghost and the Darkness” by Stephen Hopkins. As lions lose their habitat, they are more likely to enter settlements, thereby creating new conflicts and potential attacks on people.

Feline viral immunodeficiency is common in lions (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, FIV), which is similar to HIV. In Tanzania's Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks, as well as in Kruger National Park, South Africa, 92% of lions tested were infected. This disease does not have a negative impact on the health of animals, but for domestic cats it can be fatal.

Security status

Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) and cape lion (Panthera leo melanochaita) are two extinct subspecies of the African lion. The African lion population has declined significantly in numbers in West Africa and other African countries. If there are no corridors between reserves, this will most likely become a problem.

Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) limited to one population, they live in the Gir Forest Reserve of India. The population size is about 200 mature individuals. This subspecies is listed as endangered. The Asiatic lion population is in dire need of recovery. Threats to the inhabitants of the Gir Forest come from humans and livestock in the immediate vicinity, as well as from habitat degradation.

Some small populations of lions require genetic control for continued survival and conservation of the species. For example, in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Natal, there are 120 individuals that have been bred from just three lions since 1960. In 2001, scientists used artificial insemination techniques to rejuvenate the gene pool of these South African lions. This process is quite complex and energy-intensive. Inbred populations could also be introduced into entire prides within a given area (thus minimizing conflict between existing and introduced lions).

Subspecies

Asiatic lion

Asiatic lion (Pantheraleopersica), also known as the Indian lion or Persian lion, is the only subspecies native to India, in the state of Gujarat. This subspecies is listed on the IUCN Red List due to its small population. The number of lions in the Gir forest is growing steadily. The number of individuals has more than doubled, from a minimum of 180 in 1974 to 411 individuals as of April 2010. Of these: 97 adult males, 162 adult females, 75 juveniles and 77 cubs.

For the first time, the Asiatic lion was described by the Austrian zoologist Johann N. Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo persicus. The Asiatic lion is one of five large cat species, such as the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard, found in India. Previously, the Asiatic lion lived in the territory of Persia, Israel, Mesopotamia, Baluchistan, from Sindh in the west and Bengal in the east, from Rampur and Rohilkhand in the north to Nerbuddha in the south. It differs from the African lion in having less swollen auditory capsules, a larger brush at the end of the tail and a less developed mane.

The brightest external difference serves as a longitudinal fold on the abdomen. Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions. Adult males weigh from 160 to 190 kg, and females - 110-120 kg. Height at withers is about 110 centimeters. The length of the body of an Asiatic lion, including the tail, is on average 2.92 m. The mane of males grows on the top of the head, so their ears are always visible. In small quantities, the mane is observed on the cheeks and neck, the length in these places is only 10 cm. About half of the Asiatic lions from the Gir forest have a divided infraorbital foramen, while the African ones have only one foramen on both sides. The sagittal crest of Asiatic lions is more developed than that of African lions. The length of the skull of males varies from 330 to 340 mm, in females from 292 to 302 mm. Compared to the African lion population, the Asiatic lion has less genetic variation.

Barbary lion

Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo), sometimes referred to as the Atlas lion, was part of the African lion population, thought to have become extinct in the wild beginning in the mid-20th century. The last wild Barbary lions are believed to have died or been killed in the 1950s and early 1960s. The last video recordings of the Barbary lion date back to 1942. Filming took place in the western Maghreb, near the Tizi n'Tichka pass.

The Barbary lion was first described by the Austrian zoologist Johann Nepomuk Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo barbaricus, based on a typical representative of the Barbary subspecies.

The Barbary lion has long been considered one of the largest representatives of lions. Museum specimens of male Barbary lions are described as having dark, long-haired manes that extended to the shoulder and belly areas. The body length of males ranged from 2.35-2.8 m, and females - about 2.5 m. In the 19th century, a hunter described a large male, allegedly reaching a length of 3.25 meters, including a 75-centimeter tail. In some historical sources, weight wild males indicated 270-300 kg. But the accuracy of these measurements can be questioned, and the sample sizes of captive Barbary lions are too small to conclude that they were the largest subspecies of lions.

Before it was possible to study the genetic diversity of the lion population, the distinctive color and size of the mane was considered a compelling reason to classify these big cats as a separate subspecies. Results from long-term studies of lions in the Serengeti National Park show that various factors such as temperature environment, nutrition and testosterone levels have a direct impact on the color of a lion and the size of its mane.

Barbary lions may have long-haired manes due to the ambient temperature in the Atlas Mountains, which is much cooler than other African regions, especially during winter. Thus, the length and thickness of the mane is not considered as relevant evidence of the lion's ancestry. Mitochondrial DNA results published in 2006 contributed to the identification of unique Barbary lion haplotypes found in museum specimens that are believed to be descended from Barbary lions. The presence of this haplotype is considered a reliable molecular marker for identifying Barbary lions surviving in captivity.

Lions from western and central Africa are believed to be smaller in size than lions from southern Africa. There are also suggestions that they have smaller manes, live in small groups and have a distinctive skull shape. In where West African lions live, almost all males do not have manes or they are weakly defined.

The West African lion is distributed in western Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to the Central African Republic in the east.

Lions are rare in western Africa and may be endangered. In 2004, the population of West African lions numbered 450-1300 individuals. In addition, there were about 550-1550 lions in Central Africa. In both regions, the area historically occupied by lions decreased by 15% in 2004.

A recent study, which took place between 2006 and 2012, found that lion numbers declined even further in West Africa. Only about 400 individuals remain in the area between Senegal and Nigeria.

Congo lion, or northeastern Congo lion, or northern Congo lion (Panthera leo azandica), also known as the Ugandan lion, has been proposed as a subspecies from northeastern Belgian Congo and western Uganda.

In 1924, American zoologist Joel Azaf Allen introduced the trinomen Leo leo azandicus, which described a specimen of a male lion as a typical representative of the subspecies, which was kept in the American Museum of Natural History. This male was killed in 1912 by museum staff as part of the zoological collection, which consisted of 588 carnivores. Allen admitted a close relationship with the Massai lion (Panthera leo nubica), which is expressed in the similarity of cranial and dental characteristics, but noted with assertion that his typical specimen differed in coat color.

Congolese lions have been tentatively discovered in the northeast Democratic Republic Congo, western Uganda, southeastern Central African Republic, including parts of South Sudan. Previously they lived in Rwanda. They are the largest apex predators on the savannas, where lions hunt and feed on zebras and antelopes. They can also be found in meadows and forests.

Like other African lions, the population of the Congo lion is currently in rapid decline due to habitat loss and a decrease in potential prey.

Northeast Congo lions live in various national parks in the Belgian Congo, Uganda, such as Kabarega, Virunga and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Previously lived in the national parks of Rwanda until they died from poison during the genocide and after it.

Masai lion or East African lion (Panthera leo nubica), a subspecies of lions that lives in eastern Africa. A typical sample is described as "Nubian". This subspecies includes the previously recognized subspecies" massaica", which originally lived in Tanganyika, East Africa.

Oscar Rudolf Neumann first described the Massai lion as having a less round face, longer legs, and less flexible backs than other subspecies. Males have moderate tufts of hair on the knee joints, and their manes appear to be combed back.

Males of the East African lion, as a rule, have a body length including tail of 2.5-3.0 m. Lionesses are usually smaller, only 2.3-2.6 m. The weight of males is 145-205 kg, and females - 100-165 kg. Lions, regardless of gender, have a height at the withers of 0.9-1.10 m.

Male Masai lions have a wide range of mane types. Mane growth directly depends on age: older males have wider manes than younger males; manes grow until they reach the age of 4-5 years, then lions reach sexual maturity. Males that live at altitudes above 800 meters have more massive manes than individuals living in the warm and humid lowlands of eastern and northern Kenya. Such lions have scantier manes or no manes at all.

This subspecies is relatively common and well protected in large protected areas such as the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

Southwestern lions are one of the largest subspecies. Males have a body length of 2.5-3.1 m including tail, and females - 2.3-2.65 m. The weight of males is 140-242 kg, and females - 105-170 kg. The height at the withers is 0.9-1.2 m.

Like everyone else African lions, Katangese lions hunt mainly large animals such as warthogs, zebras, and wildebeest. Males tend to have lighter manes than other lion subspecies.

There is a small population of these lions in captivity. 29 lions from this subspecies are registered in the International Species Information System. Southwestern lions are descended from animals that were captured in Angola and Zimbabwe. However, the purity of the bloodline of these captive lions cannot be confirmed. Genetic analysis suggests they may be descended from lions from West or Central Africa.

Males, as a rule, have a well-developed mane. Most of them have it black. The body length of males varies between 2.6-3.2 m, and females - 2.35-2.75 m. The weight of males reaches 15-250 kg, and females - 110-182 kg. Height at withers – 1.92-1.23 m.

White lions have a rare color mutation and belong to the Transvaal lions. Leucism occurs only in these lions, but quite rarely. They live in several nature reserves and zoos around the world.

According to recent genetic studies, the extinct Cape lion, previously classified as a separate subspecies, was not significantly different from the South African subspecies. The Cape lion therefore represented the southern population of the Transvaal lion.

More than 2000 individuals of this subspecies have good protection in the Kruger National Park. In addition, about 1000 lions are registered in the International Species Information System. These animals are descendants of lions captured in South Africa.

As with the Barbary lion, there is a lot of confusion about the dark-colored manes of captive animals. The dark mane is the result of breeding and crossbreeding of lions long ago captured in Africa. The mixing of subspecies promoted hybridization, so most modern lions in captivity have mixed alleles from representatives of different subspecies.

Early authors justified the identification of a separate subspecies by the presence of a fixed morphology in animals. Males had a huge mane extending beyond the shoulders and covering the belly and ears, as well as distinctive black tufts. However, it has now been proven that such external characteristics depend on ambient temperature and other factors. Mitochondrial DNA results published in 2006 do not support the recognition of a separate subspecies.

Cape lions preferred to hunt large ungulates such as antelope, zebra, giraffe and buffalo. They also killed donkeys and livestock belonging to European settlers. Man-eaters, as a rule, were old lions with bad teeth.

Cape black-maned lions lived in southern Africa, but since they were not the only representatives of lions in the southern territories, the exact range of habitat is difficult to determine. Their stronghold was the Cape Province, near Cape Town. One of the last representatives living in the province was killed in 1858, and in 1876 the Czech explorer Emil Holub bought young lion, who died two years later.

The Cape lion disappeared so quickly after European contact that habitat destruction can hardly be considered a significant factor. Dutch and English settlers, hunters and athletes simply destroyed lions.

How many years do lions live? To understand this issue, you need to understand what this predator is, in what conditions it exists, and also on what factors its lifespan depends.

King of beasts

The lion is a large mammal of the cat family. Everyone knows what this predator is called. To understand why the ancient peoples called it that, just look at how this animal lies. Leo always maintains a powerful, one would like to say regal, posture. And his luxurious mane makes his appearance even more majestic.

The male weighs about 200 kilograms, and reaches 2.8 m in length (by the way, as much as 90 centimeters are accounted for by his beautiful tail). Lionesses are a little smaller. Their weight is 140 kilograms, and their body length reaches 2.5 meters. Females, unlike males, do not have a mane.

A lion can knock down a zebra weighing about three hundred kilograms with one blow of his paw (!). It must be said that those we are considering are good jumpers.

Habits and habits

Lions live and hunt in a pack (another name is a pride). Predators feed on zebras, giraffes, rodents, hares and antelopes, and sometimes they eat carrion. IN in rare cases lions attack buffalos, elephants and rhinoceroses. Moreover, as a rule, they hunt, and lions guard the prey. There are often cases when these wild cats took food from small predators.

After the “meal” the lions rest in the shade or on the branches. Yes, yes, they climb trees perfectly! Thanks to their claws, they can climb to a height of about six meters. Note that lions are still sleepyheads! Their sleep duration is more than twenty hours a day. But even when the male is sleeping, he hears everything. necessary to preserve the offspring and the lioness.

These predators may not drink for a long period, since the liquid contained in the eaten animal is enough for them. One such animal can eat up to forty kilograms of meat at a time, then it will wait a week until the food is digested, and then it can go hunting again. Of course, in this situation one should not be surprised to hear that lions can for a long time can do without food.

Scientists have concluded that a lion's age is fifteen years old, but this is not always the case. Unfortunately, many predators die much earlier.

At two years of age they begin puberty. Mating takes place all 12 months of the year. The female's pregnancy lasts 110 days. In one litter, from two to five cubs are born. The female can bear offspring every two years. It happens that the lioness does not allow the male to approach the cubs, because she fears for their lives.

Lion cubs spend the first three months of their lives only with their mother, away from the group. When the baby is born, it is the size of a domestic cat. Spotted fur serves as reliable camouflage for babies. Young mothers very often unite, organizing a kind of nursery where they gather all their offspring. Having placed the cubs under the care of one lioness, the other mothers can hunt calmly, knowing that the babies are protected. When they grow up, lion cubs are taken with them on hunts in order to teach them how to track prey and then kill. At two or three years old, males already grow a mane. This is the time when the strongest drives the weaker ones out of the pack. At five years old, a lone lion tries to create his own pride.

Specifically about age

So, lion... How long does this proud, handsome man live? Its lifespan depends on many factors. For example, how many years do lions live in the wild? In the wild, these predators face many dangers, but their main enemy is man. Due to raids by hyenas and poachers, as well as unfavorable conditions The life expectancy of a lion in natural conditions is short - about eight years. But this time is enough to mature and also leave offspring.

Note that females live several years longer. Probably due to the fact that they do not have to defend territory in the fight against strangers.

Life in reserves

How many years do lions live in nature reserves? In this zone they have a longer life because the animals are protected from poachers. Here predators live up to fourteen years, which is almost twice as long as in the wild.

How many years do lions live in the zoo?

Almost all zoos have created ideal conditions for big cats (in terms of safety). In such places, lions live for more than twenty years, being under the sensitive attention of workers and veterinarians. In Germany there was a long-lived lion; he lived in a zoo for up to 29 years.

So we got to know these noble animals better. And if your child, looking at Once again cartoon about Simba, ask about the life expectancy of these representatives, you will probably be able to tell your child how long lions live in the wild, in the zoo and reserve.

Snow-white lions came to real life, like from a fairy tale. Until relatively recently, they were considered mythical creatures. Today, the miracle of nature can be observed in a zoo or in a nature reserve. In total there are about 300 individuals that are under human protection. Rare animals with unique colors are not destined to survive in nature.

Description and features

White Lion does not belong to albino animals, separate subspecies in the family. The amazing color is due to certain genetic combinations caused by a disease called leucism. The phenomenon can be contrasted with melanism, as a result of which black panthers appear.

The complete absence of pigment cells is very a rare event. In animals, localized pigmentation more often appears, when white spots, like scattered snow, cover the plumage, fur of mammals, even the skin of reptiles. Lack of pigmentation of the hair shaft is characteristic of only one species of lions.

There is no answer why the mutation appears only in them. A white lion cub is born to a cream-colored lioness. Both parents must be heterozygous, possess a genetic pair of a combination of recessive and dominant genes for white and brown color. Crossbreeding may result in lion black and white. As the dog grows, the dark spots will disappear and the coat will become uniformly light. The brown gene may dominate in the offspring; the chance of getting a snow white lion cub is approximately one in four.

Unlike albinos with red irises, lions' eyes, skin, and paw pads are painted in traditional colors. Yellow-golden, sky-blue eye shade suits handsome blondes very well. The valuable fur varies in tones: from light sand to pure white, including the traditionally dark mane and tip of the tail.

From an evolutionary standpoint, a lion's white fur is an obvious disadvantage. WITH aesthetic point sight, unique animals are extraordinarily beautiful. The preservation of the rare color is carried out by specialists in breeding lions for keeping in zoos. Human care guarantees safe development and life safety for animals.

Natural conditions are cruel to white lions. The specific color deprives predators of the ability to camouflage, as a result of which sudden capture of prey becomes impossible. White lions themselves become targets for hyenas. Snow-white offspring have an even higher risk of death. Special lions are expelled from the pride to live independently, but have no chance of adapting to natural environment they have very little. Vulnerable animals can hide in the savannah from natural enemies and people is impossible.

The white lion has big fangs like everyone else predatory representatives felines

Sometimes ideas arise to return zoo inhabitants to the wild. Discussions in the press often do not reflect the positions of experts. You cannot mix retroinduction (restoration of populations of rare subspecies of lions) and breeding animals with a unique color that are not capable of independent existence in nature.

The belief of African tribes was associated with the rare color of lions. According to legend, many years ago the human race was cursed evil spirits, which sent terrible diseases. People prayed to their gods. The heavens sent the White Lion to answer the call for salvation. Thanks to God's messenger, the human race was healed. A beautiful legend lives in the culture of the peoples of Africa to this day.

People believe that seeing a white lion means gaining strength, atonement for sins, and becoming happy. It brings people protection from wars, racial discrimination, and diseases. Severe punishment awaits those who even unwittingly harm rare animals. White lions of Africa - a valuable trophy, they are protected by the state and are included in the Red Book. Saving a small population is possible only through restrictive, protective measures.

Lifestyle and habitat

There is an assumption that 20 thousand years ago, lions lived among the snowy plains, so the snow-white color was a camouflage for hunting animals. Global warming due to climate change has led to the extinction of white lions. Rare individuals were found among savannahs and in the steppes of hot countries, which was perceived as a miracle.

The existence of white lions was confirmed in 1975, when white lion cubs were discovered at the age of 8 weeks. Happened historical event in southeast Africa, in the territory national park Kruger Reserve Timbavati. The animals are classified as Panthera leo krugeri. The place of discovery was elevated to the rank of sacred; the name means “here star lions descend from heaven.”

The kids were moved to a safe place, where they were saved from disease, hunger, and death from poachers. Since then, the descendants of white lions have lived in zoological centers. One of the largest is the huge Sanbona Nature Reserve in South Africa, where over a hundred rare animals live. Conditions have been created for residents natural environment when people don't influence natural selection, animal reproduction. In other zoo centers, the preservation of white lions is maintained artificially.

White lion in the photo always causes surprise, but in real life meeting him fills people with a feeling of delight. The greatness, grace, and beauty of the animal are mesmerizing. Comfortable conditions for the preservation of rare animals are created in zoos in Japan, Philadelphia, and other countries. There are 20 white lions living in nature reserves in Germany. In Russia, you can see white lions in the largest zoo in Krasnoyarsk, Roev Ruchey, and in the Safari Park of Krasnodar.

The total number of animals on the planet does not exceed 300 individuals. This is very little, but the protection and development of the population is carried out so that the white lion does not completely turn into a mythical creature. Scientists are faced with the task of restoring animals naturally, since inbreeding is dangerous for the lives of future generations.

White lion - animal noble, majestic. Adult lions form family packs - prides, consisting of a male, his females and offspring. Growing young lions are expelled to form their own or take over someone else's pride. This usually occurs at the age of 2-2.5 years, when the juveniles become competitive.

White lion resting after eating

Females are responsible for raising their offspring. Interesting. That mothers watch not only their cubs, but also other lion cubs. The male is busy guarding the pack, the pride territory. Well-fed and calm predators love to bask under the crowns of spreading trees and in the shade of bushes. The time of undisturbed rest and sleep can last up to 20 hours.

Nutrition

Lions are predators; their diet is based only on meat. In the wild, animals hunt collectively at night, and occasionally during the day. The roles are clearly defined. The male scares the prey with a terrible roar, fast and agile females quickly attack the victims. The surprise factor is very important, because lions can only run fast over short distances.

It is much more difficult for white lions to hunt due to the lack of camouflage color in their fur. Solitary hunting occurs by young males wandering without a pride. The efficiency of such food acquisition is only 17%, in contrast to 30% of collective hunting. The daily requirement of each lion is 7-8 kg of meat. In Africa, the prey of predators includes buffaloes, Thomson's gazelles, warthogs, zebras, and wildebeests.

A hungry white lion went hunting

Lucky and strong lions can cope with an adult giraffe, hippopotamus, and elephant. Animals do not refuse carrion and livestock; they take prey from other predators that are smaller in size than lions.

Lions who are unable to various reasons capture large prey, feed on rodents, birds, reptiles, pick up ostrich eggs, and eat hyenas and vultures. At one time, a lion can eat from 18 to 30 kg of meat. In the following days, they can go without food for up to 3-14 days. The diet in zoos is not as varied as in the wild. Lions are fed mainly beef.

Reproduction and lifespan

Lions are polygamous animals and can breed throughout the year, but the peak birth rate occurs during the rainy season. The main male of the pride always has priority choice of female. There is practically no fight for the female between lions. Sexual maturity of lions occurs at 4 years for females, at 5 years for males.

The frequency of birth of offspring in a lioness is once every two years. Pregnancy lasts up to 3.5 months. Before the birth of the offspring, the female leaves the pride, and after some time returns with the babies.

White lion with lionesses

1-5 snow-white lion cubs are born, weighing 1-2 kg each. Newborn lion cubs are blind until the 11th day, when their eyes open. Babies begin to walk after 2 weeks, and at the age of one month they are already running. The mother closely monitors the babies until they are 8 weeks old. Milk feeding is completed by 7-10 months. Up to one and a half years old, young lion cubs are still very dependent on the older individuals in the pride.

As they grow, the color of the lion cubs changes slightly - the snow-white color becomes ivory. Young lionesses remain in the pride after growing up, lions go into independent life and often die.

The life of white lions depends on many unfavorable factors for them. They are able to live in nature for up to 13-16 years, but die prematurely as vulnerable animals due to their light coat color. In zoos, with proper care and protection of predators, life expectancy increases to 20 years.

Female white lion and her offspring

The realities of life are such that it depends only on the person whether he will remain white lion in the Red Book or populations will become large beyond critical status. Nature is generous with diversity and beauty. White lions confirm this by their existence not only in legends, but also in life.