Lion
The lion (Panthera leo) is one of four big cats in the genus
Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males
exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, it is the second-largest
living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan
Africa and in Asia with a critically endangered remnant population in
northwest India, having disappeared from North Africa, the Middle East,
and Western Asia in historic times[specify]. Until the late Pleistocene,
which was about 10,000 years ago, the lion was the most widespread large
land mammal after humans. They were found in most of Africa, much of Eurasia
from western Europe to India, and in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru.
Lions live for around 10-14 years in the wild, while in captivity they can
live over 20 years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years as
fights with rivals occasionally cause injuries. They typically inhabit
savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are
unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related
females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions
typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex
and keystone predator, although they will scavenge if the opportunity arises.
While lions do not typically hunt humans selectively, some have been known to
become man-eaters and seek human prey.
Lion populations
The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible
population decline of 30 to 50 percent over the past two decades in its
African range.[6] Lion populations are untenable outside of designated
reserves and national parks. Although the cause of the decline is not
fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently
the greatest causes of concern. Lions have been kept in menageries since
Roman times and have been a key species sought for exhibition in zoos
the world over since the late eighteenth century. Zoos are cooperating
worldwide in breeding programs for the endangered Asiatic subspecies.
Visually, the male lion is highly distinctive and is easily recognized by its mane.
The lion, particularly the face of the male, is one of the most widely recognized
animal symbols in human culture. Depictions have existed from the Upper
Paleolithic period, with carvings and paintings from the Lascaux and Chauvet
Caves, through virtually all ancient and medieval cultures where they historically
occurred. It has been extensively depicted in literature, in sculptures, in
paintings, on national flags, and in contemporary films and literature.
(From Wikipedia)