Lion Facts
A magnificent, majestic creature that invokes interest, fear and awe in most people; some lion facts that have been gathered will add respect to that list as well.
Most information that people believe to be lion facts are actually lion misconceptions. One of these lion facts is that the creature is a man eater. Lions do not consider humans to be within their dietary preferences. There have been reports of attacks on humans which have resulted in their deaths, but these attacks have been accounted as rare and unusual. Reasons that a lion may attack a human are generally in cases of a lioness defended her cubs, or because a lion has become so old or physically damaged that it is unable to hunt in a manner that will satisfy its hunger.
Some lion facts are better known than others. Because of excellent documentaries on wildlife television programs, many know that lions travel in groups called “prides”. In the pride, there is generally one prominent male with several lesser, usually younger, males along with many related lionesses. Females of the pride are predominately the hunters, while the prominent male guards the pride against outside threats. He also watches over the cubs within the pride while the females are hunting, exhibiting great shows of patience and sometimes humor as he plays with them and keeps them in line. Making sure that cubs get enough to eat when there is a kill also falls within the male’s scope of responsibility.
Other lion facts are either lesser known or perhaps not known at all by many. A lion’s roar, for example, can be heard up to 5 miles away. An also little known of lion facts is that the lion and the tiger are closely related. So much so, that if it weren’t for the different appearance in the coats, only experts would not have a difficult time differentiating between the two body types.
The lion relies on large game in the wild for nourishment. Wildebeest, zebra and deer are main targets according to lion facts; prey that weigh in from 100 to 1,000 pounds. Lions are stalkers, with the lionesses forming a circle in the surrounding brush around the targeted prey. They then rush the animal, running it down in a rapid burst. Going directly for the neck, the lioness brings the animal down, biting on the neck until the victim is strangled. The pride quickly gathers to feast on the fallen prey, with the males eating first then the cubs. They gorge on the meal, after which they rest for a period without the need to hunt again for a few days.
Lion facts also show that the animals live longer in captivity than in the wild; no doubt due to better care and fewer threats. Life spans in the wild are normally around 15 years, while lions in captivity can live up to 25 years.
Understanding that lions are a vital part of the earth’s circle of life through learning accurate lion facts helps to alleviate fears and increase respect of the lion, a majestic beast of the wild.