Today there are many stories and legends about the lifestyle of the king of beasts.But to distinguish truth from fiction about how and where lions live, you need to thoroughly understand the issue.Indeed, among the many animals on our planet, these predators are allocated extraordinary strength and power.The majestic mane and the deafening roar of a lion really give a royal look.And even in the behavior of the animal present unique royal manners.
serious predator
No matter where they live lions - in the wild or in captivity - they are always themselves.This huge powerful predators, great owning your mobile, flexible and muscular body.They are very quick and agile running.These predatory cats have powerful jaws and big teeth, allowing to keep even such non-small wildlife like wildebeest.And with claws to tear apart prey for lions generally not a problem.But that's not all!It turns out that the language of animals strewn with thorns, which allows him to take good care of their skin, catching fleas and removing ticks.
course, on which continent the lion lives, depends on many things: his way of life and diversity of food produced, and even appearance.Today in the wild animal is found in Africa and Asia.However, in the world there is also the namesake of land predators - sea lion.And although the names they like, the animals themselves are very, very different from each other and mix them completely impossible.
Lifestyle
Lion - a representative of the cat, which is able to look without blinking at the sun.For this, and they call it the king of beasts.The way the lions live, how to survive in the wild and in the struggle with the man, it deserves due to the respect and attention.
Living these predators families, so-called prides.They consist usually of one or two males, several lionesses and cubs.Adult lions occupied territory of protected habitat pride as cases of abuse on the part of male lone occur quite often.Lionesses are engaged in hunting and rearing of offspring.Cubs spend days and tumble play, developing agility and quickness, they will need in the future.The average number of Pride is about twenty individuals.
Lion ownership apply to dozens of square kilometers of open spaces and areas covered with thickets.
It is important that in the realm of the lions were many ungulates.Because of their number depends on the abundance of prey cat food.
Asian lion
Where are the lions, called Asian, not hard to guess.Their habitats are located in Girskogo forest in the north-western part of India.This subspecies of the cat family is sometimes called Indian, Bengali or Persian.
Asiatic lions is quite similar to their African cousins, but far inferior to them in size and weight.Moreover, the hair coloring ranges from reddish-brown to shades of gray and black.
Living Indian lions is only 1412 km2, and it is home to no more than 359 individuals.They hunt these wild cats in the scrubby forests alternating with fields.How many lions live in these areas, it is difficult to say exactly.Now most of these lands are gradually trapped people.Predators had to give them plenty of their hunting areas.
Survival of Indian lions
Today Indian lions have to share their territory not only with people but also with other wild cats - Indian leopards and Bengal tigers.But a few centuries ago they dominated as much down to the shores of Greece.There have been cases of individuals meeting even along the Don River.According to ancient legend, in Russia the last Bengal lion killed himself Prince Igor in the tenth century.
in 1907 of these animals was only thirteen species.But the incredible efforts of the man was able to keep them alive in captivity.The protected nature reserve that is home to lions, and today, experts are constantly fighting for the lives of these animals.
African lions
African lions live in Central Africa.These holdings include the savannah area that can accommodate huge vital watering.The main decoration of the males of these animals is a perfect mane covering the head, chest and neck.Their body length reaches 240 cm, weight - 230 kg.Height and weight lionesses little smaller.Coat of these wild cats is short and thick.Unlike their Asian relatives, the color of the skins from them ranges from light yellow to deep sand.Mane males slightly darker than the main color.
matter on which continent the lion lives in Eurasia and Africa, the problem of the destruction of the same person.After about twenty years ago, these African predators were more than 230 thousand.Today, their number has decreased by ten times.The reason for this is human hostility.Because of the frequent attacks on the cattle population of lions in combat using poison baits or weapons.This was the reason for the catastrophic reduction of livestock animals.
Lifetime king of beasts
talking about saving the lives of wild cats, one can not help thinking about how many lions live in the wild.However, if we compare these predators to other animals, their life span is quite small.Unlike general relativity lions in captivity, in the wild lions rarely live up to thirty years.After all, to fifteen years they are very much weakened, which does not allow them to maintain their power over the family.In addition, many individuals do not live to that age because of fights with other males.Lioness life expectancy longer.
Cases when lions are killed when clashes with the crocodiles, which are their only natural and mortal enemies.Among them being the eternal struggle.If a lion can kill a crocodile on land, the crocodile will avenge him in the aquatic environment.
Power Pride
favorite treat is a lion meat.However, it serves as a staple food, which uses an animal.Leo alone for a year consumes about fifteen large animals, which reaches an average weight of one hundred kilograms.Interestingly, the top earners are subsistence lioness.But when the meal begins, the first approach to food Pridelord.It is he who chooses the plum, and eats the rest females and young.Lion family dinner once in three days.Each member may consume about eighteen kilograms of meat.After the meal, pride goes to drink.After a thorough dinner family starts to sleep, which can last about twenty hours.
is noteworthy that in the habitat and hunting wild cats are always pack of hyenas and jackals.And often the lion prides generously shared with them produced food.
Lion Hunt
most commonly lions hunt deer, zebras, antelopes, giraffes sometimes.Nor are the exception in this case and other similar animals.During the day, the pride of lions trying to relax in the shade, and at nightfall goes hunting.Generally, a family of four fish at least once a week produces for himself a large animal.Leo, who has a special role during the hunt, frightening and distracting the victim.His own relatives are lying in wait, hiding in the grass and slowly crawled.Special bloody work usually performed lions, and the old male manages the overall process.
However, most often it is the lioness are dobytchitsami for pride.They surround pleasurable animal and slowly approached him.After selecting the time, one of the lionesses severe blow big paw knocked the victim down and bites his teeth into the throat.One attack of four ends for hunters successfully.Once the lionesses pounced on prey, it appears in all its glory, and the male lion, which, deftly jumping, can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h.
reproduction and offspring
Lions are very loving animals.Maybe that's why they reproduce at any time of the year.For mating, the male takes his girlfriend out of the place where the lions live.In Africa, in contrast to the Asian relatives, have the leader can be from four to six lionesses.When gestational age females is three and a half months, it leaves the family to produce offspring.To do this, a lioness chooses nook in the thick bushes.
Lion cubs are born blind and helpless.The skin is covered with patches of them, which disappear as they get older.The average number of babies being born ranges from three to five individuals, but to the majority survives no more than half.They feed the cubs the mother's milk, but in the age of seven months begin to eat meat.To join Pride kids on the performance of two months.Lions are considered adults at the age of only five years.
Sea lions
Speaking of lions, one can not forget about their namesake water - sea lions.These pinnipeds, having no resemblance to wild cats, have much in common with the seals.The only difference is that they do not attempt to distant migrations and wintering remain with their banks.Where sea lions live, there is a huge area with lush greenery, and there is no hot days in Savannah.Almost all of these animals live in the cold waters of the North Pacific, as well as in the southern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.To their places of residence are the coast of North America in the area of the peninsula of California, the Galapagos Islands and the southeastern part of the Sea of Japan.
sea lions feed on fish.Sometimes, in order to catch it, they have to dive to a depth of ninety meters.Also in the diet of pinnipeds may contain shellfish.
