Lion

The lion (Panthera leo) is one in every of the large cats within the mammal genus and a member of the Felidae. The normally used term African lion together denotes the many race found in Africa. With some males exceptional 250 weight unit (550 lb) in weight, it's the second-largest living cat once the tiger. Wild lions presently exist in geographic region Associate in Nursingd in India (where an vulnerable remnant population resides in Gir Forest National Park). In ancient historic times, their vary was in most of Africa, together with North Africa, and across continent from Balkan nation and southeastern Europe to India. within the late Pleistocene epoch, about 10,000 years past, the lion was the foremost widespread massive land craniate once humans: cat spelaea lived in northern and western Europe and cat atrox lived within the Americas from the Yukon to Republic of Peru. The lion is classed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, having seen a serious population decline in its African vary of 30–50% per twenty years throughout the half of the 20 th century. Lion populations square measure indefensible outside selected reserves and national parks. though the explanation for the decline isn't totally understood, surround loss and conflicts with humans square measure the best causes of concern. among Africa, the West African lion population is especially vulnerable.

In the wild, males rarely live longer than ten to fourteen years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly cut back their longevity. In captivity they will live quite twenty years. They usually inhabit grassland and biome, though they'll go for bush and forest. Lions square measure outstandingly social compared to alternative cats. A pride of lions consists of connected females and offspring and atiny low variety of adult males. teams of feminine lions usually hunt along, preying totally on massive ungulates. Lions square measure apex and keystone predators, though they're conjointly professional scavengers getting over fifty p.c of their food by scavenging as chance permits. whereas lions don't usually hunt humans, some have. Sleeping in the main throughout the day, lions square measure active primarily in the dark (nocturnal), though generally at twilight (crepuscular).

Highly distinctive, the male lion is well recognised by its mane, and its face is one in every of the foremost wide recognised animal symbols in human culture. Depictions have existed from the amount|period of time period, with carvings and paintings from the Lascaux and Chauvet Caves in France dated to seventeen,000 years past, through just about all ancient and medieval cultures wherever they once occurred. it's been enourmously portrayed in sculptures, in paintings, on national flags, and in modern films and literature. Lions are unbroken in menageries since the time of the Roman Empire, and are a key species explore for exhibition in zoos over the planet since the late eighteenth century. Zoos square measure cooperating worldwide in breeding programs for the vulnerable Asiatic race.