8. 30 Purrtastic Persian Cat Facts You Should Know. The litter usually consists of 1 to 4 cubs in a den which can be either cave, thicket or reed-bed etc. The integration of cubs into the pride happens earlier if other lionesses also gave birth at around the same time. Fact 186: Oxford University and WildLink International started an International Barbary Lion Project to identify Barbary lions and breed them in captivity so that they can be reintroduced into the national parks of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. But they do it every 15 to 30 minutes. Lions are the only cats that live in groups. Fact 52: The white lion doesn’t have albinism. Fact 27: Lion is the second largest big cat in the world. Sphinx was built to guard some vital areas like temples or tombs. Did lions signify anything in various cultures? The length of a female lion is 63 to 72 inches or 160 to 184 centimeters. They are one of the largest cats on our planet. A lion is a large, powerful carnivore and was once common in Asia and parts of Europe as well as in Africa. A lion crossed with leopard produces leopon. They typically weigh between Pride members keep track of one another by roaring. 1. Fact 23: Lions are usually bred with tigers in zoos. These motifs became famous during Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). Fact 126: It might surprise you but lions have round pupils and not vertical pupils like domestic cats. Mari-Cha Lion is the name of the statue and was displayed at Louvre, Abu Dhabi. Fact 103: Hunters of the pride are extremely important and they are the ones who eat the prey first. How did different cultures of the world perceive lions? Fact 122: They also communicate through their markings i.e., they use claws, feces and urine to mark their territory. Lions are real super predators. Interesting Facts About Lions for Kids - Roaming through Africa, the lion is the second largest cat in the world. We bring you 5 interesting facts about one of the biggest cats – Lion! The very word “Sinhala” means people with blood of lion or lion people. Lions of Southern and East Africa are genetically more diverse and have a long evolutionary history than the lions from Asia, central and west Africa. Are lions at the brink of extinction? Fact 130: Other unusual preys are small reptiles and porcupines. The male’s outstanding characteristic is his mane, which varies between different individuals and populations. Fact 16: Herodotus, the father of history, reported that lions were common back in 480 BCE in Greece. Lions are the second largest big cat species in the world (behind tigers). … Some notable movies are the Lion King, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and The Chronicles of Narnia. 25+ Amazing Lion Facts For Kids. It also provides amazing pictures that makes learning about the animal really fun for both kids and adults. Fact 189: American zoos started bringing wild-born lions of Africa from 1989 to 1995. The Congo lion is characterized by a measurement of between 2 meters and 50 centimeters and/or 2 meters 80 centimeters. The lion is found throughout the south Sahara desert and in parts of southern and eastern Africa. As of 2005, there are around 11 subspecies of lions. Fact 89: A pride consists of about 15 lions which includes up to 4 males, multiple females and their cubs. Fact 101: Males patrol the borders of their pride areas. The largest big cat is the tiger. Find out the answers to these questions in this segment of lion facts. They are polyestrous (they can go in heat several times in a year) and hence, lions don’t just mate at any specific time. In captivity, the average lion life span reaches 30 years, and in the wild only 15. Fact 117: Social licking is mutual and the recipient appears happy. Fact 202: Caves of France’s Lascaux and Chauvet had carvings and paintings which dated 15,000 to 17,000 years old. They spend around 16 – 20 hours in a day sleeping or resting. If resources are scarce, the pride becomes smaller. Though lions still exist in 28 African countries and one Asian country, only six protected area complexes are known to … The length of the hair in the lion's mane can reach up to forty centimeters. African lions can grow to between 9 and 10 feet long (3 meters) from head to tail, with the tail being about 2 to 3 feet long (60 to 91 centimeters), according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Fact 8: Phylogenetic studies of 2006 and 2009 reveal that lion and jaguar belong to one sister group (sister group is the closest relative of one species to another). Fact 131: Lions don’t usually have any particular hunting time. The Congo lion (Panthera leo azandica), also known as the central African lion, is a lion subspecies distributed along the plains of the African continent, especially in Uganda and the Republic of the Congo.. Lions are vulnerable on the IUCN red list Fact 176: From 2002 to 2004, the number of African lions present in the wild was between 16,500 and 47,000 present. while zebras, African buffalo, giraffe, blue wildebeest, gemsbok etc. Fact 118: Apart from these gestures, lions portray a variety of facial expressions like flehmen response (grimace face) to show different emotions. The claws of an adult lion can reach seven centimeters in length. In this segment on lion facts we are going to learn about the physical build of lions, their color, sexual dimorphism and more. Fact 204: The sculpture is around 32,000 years old and is considered to have originated from Aurignacian culture. Fact 149: The dead bodies on which lions and hyenas feed are hunted down by hyenas. but hunting a buffalo or a giraffe singly is a bit difficult and risky. Although lions are larger and stronger, lionesses are in charge for the hunt. Fact 154: Hyenas and lions kill each other even when the prey is not involved. Fact 148: The lions which scavenge keep an eye for circling vultures because that is where the carrion is present. The Lion is referred to as the King of the Jungle. Fact 170: John Henry Patterson, Lieutenant-Colonel, was the in charge of the project of constructing the bridge over Tsavo River. Fact 72: The females synchronize their reproductive cycles so that they can give birth to cubs at around same time which increases the survival rate of cubs. Fact 200: Across the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa lions stood as a symbol of nobility and strength. Fact 197: Captive lions sometimes get infected with canine distemper virus which is spread by domestic dogs, cats etc. The lion is a well-muscled cat with a long body, large head, and short legs. An adult lion can easily weigh up to a quarter ton. So, they are basically active only for the remaining 8 to 4 hours when they protect their territory. A bronze age statue of a lion was unearthed from southern Italy or southern Spain which dated 1000 to 1200 BCE. Fact 192: Lions from one pride attack and inflict deadly injuries to the lions of other prides when they encounter in disputes of territory. One of the most amazing lion facts is that both the African lions and the Asiatic lions are born completely blind. Fact 18: The last European area for lions was the Caucasus (situated between black sea and Caspian Sea). Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides—though there is one population of solitary lions. Fact 109: Male and female Asiatic lions meet only when they have to mate. A lion may sleep up to 20 hours a day. Fact 82: It is interesting to note that male lions bond with other males well within the same pride. Fact 229: During Tang dynasty (post 6th CE), lions were depicted more or less in a realistic way because Buddhist art was introduced in China. Fun Facts About Lions. Fact 91: Tsavo lion pride is the only exception because it has only one male and the male cubs are ousted from the pride once they turn 2 or 3 years old. The size of the pride is determined by the availability of food and water. Age and injury are also a couple of factors which make lions maneaters. Fact 46: The presence of tuft is a characteristic feature of a lion. hunted lions or captured lions so that the lions can be hunted down by the kings or emperors. Fact 70: The cubs stay a bit anxious and fearful but later on they start mingling with others – cubs and adults alike. Lions are among the animals that are at the top of the food chain, which is why they are also referred to as the alpha predators. On the other hand, vertical pupils help domestic cats to zero down on small preys. — We don’t allow post or links that are not related to education. Fact 179: This population is listed as Critically Endangered and is protected in three areas viz. Fact 120: They mostly roar at night and their roar can be heard from a distance of around 8 kilometers or 5 miles. Fact 233: Lions are also depicted in movies, books etc. Ten Interesting Facts about Lions 1. A male needs 7kg or more a day. Fact 183: The situation of lions in Asia is a bit better than African lions. By using our website, you agree to the cookie and privacy policy of Facts Legend. Fact 193: As mentioned earlier, injured, old lions and cubs fall prey to leopards, hyenas and other predators. Fact 156: Lions dominate leopards, cheetahs and steal and kill the adults but, it is rare. Among all representatives of the cat family, the lions are the highest. Fact 49: The tail length of a male lion is 32.5 to 36.8 inches or 82.5 to 93.5 centimeters and for female lion, the tail length is 28.3 to 35.2 inches or 72 to 82.5 centimeters. Subtitles. The tuft starts developing when the cubs are five and a half months old and by the age of seven months the tuft is identifiable. Fact 59: Usually lionesses become sexually mature by the age of 4. How did this big cat get its name? They can leap as far as 36 feet! The length of the mane signals the fighting or dueling success in male-male relationships. Fact 218: In ancient Mesopotamia (from Sumer civilization to Babylonian civilization), lions were related to kingship. The gestation period is 110 days. 3. They don’t mate longer than a minute. Here are just a few random and fun lion facts that you will definitely enjoy. Fact 56: The lions can be seen at a height of around 11,800 feet or 3,600 meters. 20 Interesting Facts about Lions You Didn’t Know (with pictures) This post highlights interesting facts about the lion, commonly called the king of the jungle. Fact 201: As it is often termed as “the King of the jungles” and “King of the beasts”, it is considered as a symbol of royalty. Fact 63: Lioness usually mate with more than one male. Read on…. Fact 175: However, the population of lions is still declining in the African regions. Fact 151: Lions and hyenas share the ecological niche. Fact 138: They kill by giving a killer bite to the throat. If you are approaching us for Sponsored Link or Sponsored Posting, here are a few things you need to keep in mind: — We ADD both no-follow and sponsored tags to links. Fact 163: Lions were hunted from ancient times. Fact 76: Mothers often defend their cubs if any male tries to kill the cubs but they succeed only when three to four females (from the same pride) help the mother defending the cubs. They can be easily found in the savannahs, grassy plains, open grasslands. Fact 26: Lion is a muscular animal, with round and short head, round ears and reduced neck. They work together to defend territory and hunt. LIONS are the closest big cat relatives to common house cats, and Mountain Lions even purr. Most big cats live a lonely, solitary life but not lions. These lions were bigger than the normal lions and were extremely powerful. Males may or may not be tolerant towards cubs. Related Resources. Fact 37: It is believed that mane protects the vulnerable areas like neck and throat during fights with rivals. Example of ungulates hunted by lion are sambar deer, chital, etc. We use cookies to improve user experience and serve interest-based ads through our advertisement partner. Fact 90: However, there are prides where the number of lions living together shoots up to 30. Fact 113: It is observed that head rubs are basically a type of greeting (head rub includes nuzzling of forehead, neck and face). These royal beasts are known for their roars, golden mane, royal gait, fiery eyes, ferociousness, strength, and a highly sociable attitude. Fact 84: Lions of Kenyan National Park and Gir Lions are bright examples of homosexuality or bonding. This segment of lion facts will give you all the answers you need for your homework. Fact 236: Did you know that lion is the national animal of countries like Singapore, The Netherlands, England, Belgium, Albania, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, and Luxembourg. Enjoy reading! Fact 158: Leopards climb trees and keep their prey on the tree but there are instances where female lions climb the tree and steal the prey. Audio languages. Where can you find lions? These amulets and figures were associated with Sekhmet – an Egyptian deity, and they are dated back to Iron age (9 BCE to 6 BCE). Do they hunt in groups like gray wolves or do they go out on solo hunting adventures? Fact 182: Gir National Park in the state of Gujarat in India is the only place where lions can be found in Asia. What a shocking statistic! Your email address will not be published. 1. Fact 110: Coalitions (groups of male lions) hold territories better than nomadic lions. Both males and females have a very powerful roar that can be hear… Fact 48: The weight and size of adult lions varies from habitat to habitat but on an average the length of a male lion (head and body) is 72 – 82 inches or 184 – 208 centimeters. The mother frequently changes the den so that the predators don’t get the scent of the cubs. Fact 57: Lions mostly live across North America, Europe, and Africa. April 4, 2018. They even get trampled by buffaloes, elephants etc. The darker the mane, the older the lion. Fact 62: After mating when the male lion withdraws his penis, the spines rake the vagina which may cause ovulation. The color or hue of the eyes change from blue to either amber or brown by the time they turn two or three years. They can hunt anytime they want, but they usually prefer to hunt in the night. Fact 60: The penis of lion has spines which are pointed backwards (this characteristic is seen in other cats as well including housecats). The lion (Panthera leo) is classified as one of the five big cats in the genus Pantherawhich includes the Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard and Snow Leopard. Fact 41: There are few lionesses with mane in northern Botswana as they have higher levels of testosterone in their blood. 10,000 years ago Lions were the second most widespread land mammal, after humans. 3. Fact 11: The earliest lions evolved during Pliocene epoch in Africa. Find out everything you need to know in this segment of lion facts. The cave lion lived on the territory of Siberia and was the largest representative of the cat family that has ever walked the planet. This is a education website. Lions act like scavengers and often attack hyenas and steal their prey. Fact 34: Lions with darker mane have longer reproductive lives and better cub survival but on the flip side they suffer the most in summer months. Fact 140: Lions eat the prey at the location where prey is killed. Fact 12: Eurasian cave lion and the modern lion diverged between 2.93 and 1.23 million years ago. Some of the deities who are portrayed as lions are Pakhet, Menhit, Bast, Sekhmet etc. This segment of lion facts has all the answers you need. Your email address will not be published. Fact 219: One of the major symbols of Goddess Ishtar is lions. Ask your parents to check... 3. Most tend to be a tawny yellow-brown in colour all over, although black manes and tail tufts are not unusual.2 – The great mane around a lion’s head is unique to the lion, and only appears on mature males – young males look rather scruffy as the mane starts to grow in!3 – One genetic anomaly has pr… Fact 194: Ticks infest the ears, groin area and neck of the lions. Fact 68: They weigh around 2.6 to 4.6 pounds or 1.2 to 2.1 kilograms immediately after their birth and they start crawling after a day or two after they are born. The den is usually present away from the pride (group of lions is called pride). Before we go ahead and start the list of lion facts, let us take a quick look at the scientific classification of lions. Fact 162:  Although lions drink water every day, they can manage to live without it for four or five days if needed. Cats (Big)Factsheet. Fact 88: Females become members (of their birth pride) when they are born and they rarely leave a pride and live a solitary life. The females in the pride tend to do the majority of the hunting. Lion cubs learn to growl around the age of two. Fact 86: Groups of male lions are referred to as coalitions. Scientific studies have proven that the darker a lion’s mane is, the greater its reproductive ability. If the lion himself goes hunting, he will most likely eat the prey himself on the spot. 10min. In the lion pride, lionesses usually hunt, and the lion, meanwhile, is resting, and the lionesses bring the prey to the prey. Fact 93: Pairs of lions are observed to be mostly male lions (cubs) who were ousted from their birth pride (a pride in which the lion is born). FOOD: Lions feed upon a wide array of animals, including wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs. They resided in an area around Kenya-Uganda Railway. In ancient times, lions were a symbol of wealth and power. Population: 20,000 – 40,000 IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern A few fun facts about lions for kids are actually roarsomeenough to intrigue them and put their little minds to work. By Katie Machado Jan 13, 2019. Fact 78: Nearly 80% of the cubs die before they reach two years of age. Prides are close family groups. So, basically Singapore means city of lion. They existed across Africa, Eurasia, and America. Fact 71: The females which gave birth to cubs around the same time are more tolerant towards cubs of other mothers. This magnificent “king of beasts” has always been the subject of legends and myths. © 2020 | Facts Legend | A Unit of Akṣa Ventures. Unsurprisingly female lions choose lions with dark and thick mane. There are single lions in nature, but more often lions live in prides consisting of one or more males and a group of females. Fact 77: Cubs also die from predation by hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs or from starvation. Fact 160: Wild dogs also hunt old and injured lions. Fact 100: The area which is occupied by a pride is referred to as pride area and the area occupied by a single lion is referred to as range. 1 – Lions are one of the largest of the ‘big cats’ at approximately four-foot high, over seven-foot long and up to 500 lbs in weight. As of today, the lions became extinct in northern part of Africa barring southern Sudan. Males can reach a shoulder height of around 1.2 metres and weigh about 150 – 225 kg (av. Lionesses weigh about half as much. This sort of captive breeding continued till 1998. Some of their vocalizations are purring, bleating, humming, puffing and roaring. These strategies try to maintain the lion habitat, ensure that sufficient prey is available for lions etc. A lion can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h, but it can run at that speed for only 90 meters. If you want to know the answers to those question, this segment of lion facts will give you the answers. Asiatic lions live only in Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat (a state of India). Fact 167: Clyde Beatty, an American tamer, was the first person (possibly) in this world to use the iconic lion tamer’s chair. Fact 185: In the 19th century, lions were imported from Africa to Europe for the purpose of breeding. Fact 221: In India, lions are referred to as “mrigendra” connoting that the lion is the King of the Jungle. They walk when they are around 3 weeks old. A female lion needs 5kg of meat a day. They live in groups, called prides, of around 30 lions. Earliest surviving record of hunting lions is an Egyptian inscription dated 1380 CE which mentions that Amenhotep III (Pharaoh) hunted down 102 lions with his own arrows in first decade of his rule. Fact 187: In the year 1982, Species Survival Plan was started by Association of Zoos and Aquariums for Asiatic lions. Act like scavengers and often attack hyenas and lions also get the scent of the rulers even the... 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