APPEARANCE

THE LION (PANTHERA LEO) IS A CARNIVOROUS MAMMAL OF THE FELIDAE FAMILY AND ONE OF THE
FIVE SPECIES OF THE PANTHERA GENUS. WILD LIONS LIVE IN INCREASINGLY DISPERSED AND
FRAGMENTED POPULATIONS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (EXCEPT FOR THE JUNGLE REGIONS OF THE
ATLANTIC COAST AND THE CONGO BASIN) AND A SMALL AREA OF NORTHWESTERN INDIA (A
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED POPULATION IN THE PARK). GIR FOREST NATIONAL PARK AND
SURROUNDINGS), HAVING DISAPPEARED FROM THE REST OF SOUTH ASIA, WEST ASIA, NORTH AFRICA
AND THE BALKAN PENINSULA IN HISTORICAL TIMES.
• THE LION IS A SPECIES ADAPTED TO LIFE ON THE SAVANNAH, ON THE PLAINS WHERE IT CAN
RUN AT GREAT SPEEDS. THEY USUALLY TAKE REFUGE FROM THE SUN UNDER ACACIAS AND
OTHER TREES IN THE AFRICAN REGION, WHERE THEY HUNT ANTELOPES, EMUS AND OTHER
ENDEMIC SPECIES.

• MOST OF TODAY'S LIONS LIVE IN EAST AND SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE IT IS ESTIMATED THAT
THEIR POPULATION DOES NOT EXCEED ONE THOUSAND ADULT SPECIMENS.
• THE DIET OF THE LIONS IS BASED ON THE MEAT THAT IT OBTAINS FROM THE ANIMALS IT
HUNTS, MAINLY HERBIVORES SUCH AS WILDEBEESTS, ZEBRAS (BOTH GREVY AND
COMMON), IMPALAS, GAZELLES OR ANTELOPES, FOR EXAMPLE. HOWEVER, THEY CAN
ALSO DARE WITH LARGER SPECIES SUCH AS RHINOS OR GIRAFFES. ON THE OTHER HAND,
WHEN NECESSARY, THEY CAN ALSO FEED ON THE CARRION THAT THEY STEAL FROM
HYENAS OR VULTURES.
THE LIONS IN A ZOO MAY SEEM LIKE JUST BIG KITTENS, BUT THEIR
DIET IS NOT BASED ON FOUR CROQUETTES OF SPECIAL FEED FOR
ELIMINATING HAIRBALLS, LIKE THAT OF OUR HOMEMADE MISIFÚ