How long do lions live in the wild? What do lions eat? Geographical habitats of lions
How many years do lions live? To understand this issue, you need to understand what this predator is, in what conditions it exists, and also on what factors its lifespan depends.
King of beasts
The lion is a large mammal of the cat family. Everyone knows what this predator is called. To understand why the ancient peoples called it that, just look at how this animal lies. Leo always maintains a powerful, one would like to say regal, posture. And his luxurious mane makes his appearance even more majestic.
The male weighs about 200 kilograms, and reaches 2.8 m in length (by the way, as much as 90 centimeters are accounted for by his beautiful tail). Lionesses are a little smaller. Their weight is 140 kilograms, and their body length reaches 2.5 meters. Females, unlike males, do not have a mane.
A lion can knock down a zebra weighing about three hundred kilograms with one blow of his paw (!). It must be said that those we are considering are good jumpers.
Habits and habits
Lions live and hunt in a pack (another name is a pride). Predators feed on zebras, giraffes, rodents, hares and antelopes, and sometimes they eat carrion. In rare cases, lions attack buffaloes, elephants and rhinoceroses. Moreover, as a rule, they hunt, and lions guard the prey. It is not uncommon for these wild cats to steal food from small predators.
After the “meal” the lions rest in the shade or on the branches. Yes, yes, they climb trees perfectly! Thanks to their claws, they can climb to a height of about six meters. Note that lions are still sleepyheads! Their sleep duration is more than twenty hours a day. But even when the male is sleeping, he hears everything. necessary to preserve the offspring and the lioness.
These predators may not drink for a long period, since the liquid contained in the eaten animal is enough for them. One such animal can eat up to forty kilograms of meat at a time, then it will wait a week until the food is digested, and then it can go hunting again. Of course, in this situation, one should not be surprised to hear that lions can go for a long time without food.
Scientists have concluded that a lion's age is fifteen years old, but this is not always the case. Unfortunately, many predators die much earlier.
At two years of age they begin puberty. Mating takes place all 12 months of the year. The female's pregnancy lasts 110 days. In one litter, from two to five cubs are born. The female can bear offspring every two years. It happens that the lioness does not allow the male to approach the cubs, because she fears for their lives.
Lion cubs spend the first three months of their lives only with their mother, away from the group. When the baby is born, it is the size of a domestic cat. Spotted fur serves as reliable camouflage for babies. Young mothers very often unite, organizing a kind of nursery where they gather all their offspring. Having placed the cubs under the care of one lioness, the other mothers can hunt calmly, knowing that the babies are protected. When they grow up, lion cubs are taken with them on hunts in order to teach them how to track prey and then kill. At two or three years old, males already grow a mane. This is the time when the strongest drives the weaker ones out of the pack. At five years old, a lone lion tries to create his own pride.
Specifically about age
So, lion... How long does this proud, handsome man live? Its lifespan depends on many factors. For example, how many years do lions live in the wild? In the wild, these predators face many dangers, but their main enemy is man. Due to raids by hyenas and poachers, as well as unfavorable conditions, the life expectancy of a lion in natural conditions is short - about eight years. But this time is enough to mature and also leave offspring.
Note that females live several years longer. Probably due to the fact that they do not have to defend territory in the fight against strangers.
Life in reserves
How many years do lions live in nature reserves? In this zone they have a longer life because the animals are protected from poachers. Here predators live up to fourteen years, which is almost twice as long as in the wild.
How many years do lions live in the zoo?
Almost all zoos have created ideal conditions for big cats (in terms of safety). In such places, lions live for more than twenty years, being under the sensitive attention of workers and veterinarians. In Germany there was a long-lived lion; he lived in a zoo for up to 29 years.
So we got to know these noble animals better. And if your child, after watching the cartoon about Simba once again, becomes interested in the life expectancy of these representatives, you can certainly tell your child how long lions live in the wild, in the zoo and in the reserve.
Curious where lions live? Representatives of the cat family excite the minds of residents of different continents. It's so interesting to watch their habits... But, zoos aside, are there many predatory animals left in the wild? It's time to learn more about lions while these mammals live on our planet.
Geographical habitats of lions
Some legends and chronicles indicate that lions in the past were found from North Africa, India and Pakistan to Greece and Turkey. Predators could not be found in the places where seals live, but a significant part of Europe and even North America was inhabited by these representatives of the cat. In Northern and Northwestern India, the lion population persisted for a long time, so the inhabitants of the country have always treated this animal with respect.
Constant wars between lion prides, together with human hunting for valuable skins and luxurious manes, took their toll. Gradually, lions were completely exterminated in Greece, then they began to disappear in Turkey, and then it was Iran’s turn. In Africa alone, the population has declined by about 30-50% over the past two decades.
Reasons for the decline in the number of predators on the planet:
Habitat loss. Human intervention in the extinction of animals may be indirect. Subjugation of nature sometimes has many undesirable consequences. Thus, changing the river bed makes farming easier, but destroys the usual flora and fauna downstream of the former water flow. Habitat changes make it impossible for the lion population to expand.
Conflicts with a person. For a long time, the animal’s skin and fluffy mane were in the sights of hunters. But even listing the animal in the Red Book could not completely save the situation. Free hunters were replaced by poachers who sensed the value and demand of the trophy on the “black market.”
In their natural habitat, lions are currently found mainly in southern and eastern Africa (up to 80% of their total population). In the Erlie-Xingu ecosystem (in West Africa) for the years 2002-2004, there were from 850 to 1650 adult individuals. Their habitat occupies almost the entire territory of the continent south of the Sahara Desert.
In India, the only place where predators live freely to this day is the Gir forest. It is located in the west of the country, covering an area of 1412 sq. km. In April 2006, 359 adult individuals were counted there. A project to protect the Asiatic lion has been created in India. It is planned to support a second population of these rare animals in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (in the Kuno Nature Reserve).
Where do lions live?
Cat lovers are very rarely interested in where the skunk lives. If lions do not feed on them, then is it worth focusing on small animals? Typically, lion prides hunt mammals whose body weight ranges from 190 to 550 kg. Such food preferences explain the fact that lions inhabit open areas of the savannah.
Predators are in no hurry to enter the forest, because hunting there is difficult. But in the open area, lions like to hide in the shade of several trees. Usually these are special types of acacia, although tall shrubs can also be chosen.
How long do lions live?
Free.
Males very rarely live more than 10 years in open nature. Constant skirmishes with other lions significantly shorten their lifespan. And when a lion’s skin is of interest to poachers, then 10 years seems like a long time. In nature reserves or safari parks.
The relatively natural habitat allows the lifespan of lions to be extended to 10-14 years. Nature reserves differ from ordinary nature only in that they try to protect them from poachers and periodically feed the animals if necessary.
In zoos.
The closed territory and significantly limited predator capabilities lead to the fact that the animal quite often reaches the twenty-year mark. In captivity, many lions readily breed, so there are no special problems with their maintenance. If you constantly provide proper nutrition and monitor safety measures, then a large mammal will calmly meet its old age.
Lions are large predatory animals, distinguished by incredible strength, agility and endurance. Many people are interested in the question of what lions eat. Let's take a closer look at it.
Eating in the wild
It happened that in hungry, dry times, lions also attacked similar animals - cheetahs, wild dogs and panthers. Nature intended that absolutely any meat is suitable for lions to survive in the wild.
Lions in nature hunt in packs. Their actions are precise and clearly coordinated, but despite this, predators try not to attack large animals: rhinoceroses, elephants, giraffes and hippos. Lions understand that such a hunt can result in serious injuries, or even losses.
To feed itself, an adult lion needs to eat about 7-9 kg of meat per day, while a lioness needs only 5 kg. And this takes into account the fact that it is the females who provide food in the pride.
Food in captivity
At the zoo, the lion is given fresh meat, most often lean beef, and 2 times a week “live food” (killed chickens or rabbits). For good digestion in captivity, raw eggs, vegetable oil and grain sprouts or simple bran are added to the meat once a week. Several times a month they do a fasting day. As a rule, animals raised in captivity weigh significantly more than wild lions.
The lion is one of the large predatory animals belonging to the cat family. There are several varieties of this animal; in addition, many hybrids are known that appeared from the mixing of different species. Each of them has certain characteristics, but also has similarities. The local population of the lands that are located near the habitat of the beast calls it a “wild cat” and considers it dangerous, and tries to destroy it. Because of this, the population of these animals has greatly decreased. Meanwhile, the lion is an interesting and unique animal, so it’s worth knowing how it differs from other representatives of the fauna.
Leo - characteristics and description
When characterizing an animal such as a lion, you need to provide a description of it. The different species are slightly different from each other, but they have a lot in common.
The animal belongs to the cat family, therefore in appearance it is similar to domestic cats, only it is significantly larger than them. It is one of the largest representatives of this family, second only to the tiger.
The body of the animal is flexible and mobile; they have well-developed muscles of the front legs and neck. There are claws on the paws, the length of which reaches 7 cm. Its head is large, with an elongated muzzle and strong jaws. His fangs are long (about 8 cm), the number of teeth is 30. These features give the lion the ability to hunt large herbivores. The tongue is covered with tubercles, thanks to which the lion can clean its fur from dirt and eliminate insects.
On the muzzle there are whiskers, at the base of which there are small dark spots. These spots form a pattern unique to each animal. Cubs are born spotted, but as they grow older, the spots on their body disappear, and the color of the coat becomes uniform - brown or sand. At the tip of the animal's tail there is a black tassel.
The main feature of this animal species is sexual dimorphism. A male lion and a lioness have significant differences. For example, it is impossible to say how much a lion weighs on average without knowing the sex of a particular individual. Males are significantly larger than females in size and weight. In addition, their head is decorated with a mane, which begins to grow in lion cubs from the age of 6 months. The length of the pile and the thickness of the mane depend on age and genetics.
How much does a lion weigh?
How much an adult lion weighs on average depends on the characteristics of its life. But gender especially affects this indicator. The differences in the main parameters are shown in the table.
Despite its massiveness, this predator has the smallest heart size. Therefore, a lion cannot be called hardy. It can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h, but only covers short distances.
Features of life and habitat
When describing any animal, you need to consider not only its appearance. It is also worth finding out how long a lion lives and where it lives.
There are few places where such an animal as a lion lives. In recent years, its distribution area has decreased significantly. Previously, this animal was found not only in Africa and India, as it is now, but also in Iran, Russia, southern Europe and the Middle East. But a significant part of the population was exterminated, and conditions in many areas became unsuitable for their life. Therefore, of all the places where these animals could previously be seen, the lion now lives only in the southern part of the African continent (beyond the Sahara Desert) and in the Indian state of Gujarat. The most suitable for them are savannas, forests or bushes.
Individuals unite in small flocks - prides. A pride consists of 5 or 6 related females, their cubs and a male. In some prides there may be two males if they are brothers. Young males, having reached maturity, leave the pride (they are expelled). They have the opportunity to join another pride or create their own. Some of them lead a solitary life.
How much a lioness or male lion weighs depends on their feeding habits. Since the lion is a predator, it leads a hunting lifestyle, feeding on fairly large animals. They may be:
In rare cases, the animal may attack a hippopotamus or small elephant. Sick cheetahs, hyenas and leopards can also become its prey.
Lionesses excel in hunting. They are distinguished by dexterity and agility. Hunting is more difficult for males due to their large size and heavy mane. However, the male needs more food. An adult lion eats about 7 kg of meat per day, while a female needs 5 kg. These animals prefer to hunt at night, creeping up to the prey as far as possible.
Reproduction in lions is not tied to the time of year, but begins with reaching maturity. Males are considered sexually mature at the age of 6 years and females at the age of 4 years.
Males tend to fight for females. Sometimes these fights are so brutal that the competitor dies.
The duration of pregnancy in these animals is 110 days. Shortly before giving birth, the lioness leaves the pride and hides. She can give birth to 1-4 cubs, whose weight is slightly less than 2 kg. Lion cubs are born blind, and they open their eyes only 7 days after birth. For safety reasons, the mother changes her place of stay several times, carrying her children with her. She hunts and feeds her babies with milk. Training cubs to hunt begins at the age of 1.5 months, at which time the entire family joins the pride. With the start of the hunt, lion cubs gradually eat meat, although the period of milk feeding lasts about six months.
Lifespan of a lion
One of the important aspects of describing these animals is the question of how long a lion lives. To answer it, you need to take into account many circumstances. How long a lion lives depends on features such as:
- Habitat. The better the living conditions, the longer its duration.
- Closeness to people. In close proximity to humans, the risk of extermination of these animals and shortening their lifespan increases.
- Features of life. Lonely individuals live shorter lives than those belonging to a pride.
- Floor. Females have a longer lifespan on average than males because they are less likely to die during fights with other lions.
All these nuances affect how long a lion lives. Therefore, their lifespan varies greatly. On average it is 8-10 years. Some individuals live up to 14 years.
How long a lion lives is greatly influenced by the behavior of people. It has much more impact than other factors. If people do not seek to destroy these animals, then their life expectancy increases. Better results can be achieved if you organize living conditions suitable for animals, for example, nature reserves or zoos. In this case, lions can live 20 or even 25 years, since they are monitored by veterinarians.
Types of lions
How long a lion lives depends also on the variety of this animal. There are several subspecies of lion, each of which is distinguished by certain characteristics, habitat, living conditions and its duration. Some subspecies of this animal have already become extinct, others are at the stage of extinction. There are also several hybrid varieties resulting from crossing with tigers, leopards or jaguars.
Scientists identify 8 main subspecies, one of which is the Asiatic lion. Another name for the subspecies is the Persian lion (or Indian). The Asiatic lion lives in the southern part of Eurasia. Its main habitat is the Girsky Nature Reserve in the Indian state of Gujarat. The Asiatic lion is considered an endangered species. This subspecies is characterized by stockiness. Males are slightly more than a meter in height. Due to its sleek and sparse mane, the Asiatic lion does not seem as large as representatives of the African subspecies. The body weight of males is from 160 to 190 kg, lionesses usually weigh 90-120 kg. The length of the body is 2 - 2.5 m. The largest Asian lion has a length of 2.92 m.
The remaining species are found in Africa, which is why they can all be classified as the African lion subspecies. They are characterized by certain general features, for example, sexual dimorphism, coat color, characteristics of life and reproduction, and so on. Differences may be in body size and weight.
- Barbary. This subspecies is the largest. It used to spread throughout the African continent, but is now completely exterminated. Males had a mass of up to 270 kg, females - up to 170. Currently, the descendants of these animals can be seen in zoos and nature reserves, but they cannot be called purebred.
- Senegalese. This is also an African lion, living in the west of the continent. The size of these animals is small, the color of the coat is light. Males have almost no mane, or it is very short. You can meet representatives of this subspecies in Nigeria, Guinea and Senegal. Senegalese lions are considered endangered.
- Northern Congolese. It has all the external features that distinguish the African lion. Its habitat is savannas in the northeast of Congo. The population size of these animals is gradually decreasing.
- Maasai. Otherwise it is called East African. It differs from other varieties in having longer legs. Their mane is directed back. The male's body length is 2.5-3 m, the female's is 2.3-2.6 m. These animals inhabit Uganda, Zambia and Mozambique. A large number of Masai lions are kept in the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.
- Katangese. This species is on the verge of extinction. The bulk of it lives in southwest Africa (Zimbabwe, Angola). In length, adult males reach 3.1 m, females - 2.65 m.
- Transvaal. These are lions with black manes. Among the representatives of this subspecies there are individuals whose skin and fur do not have melanocytes. Because of this, they have white fur and pink skin. A lion can be from 2.6 to 3.2 m in length, a lioness - 2.35-2.65 m. Transvaal lions live in southern Africa (Kalahari Desert). They are also kept in the Kruger National Park.
- Cape. This species of animal was destroyed in the 19th century. They lived at the Cape of Good Hope (southern Africa). The peculiarity of the species was the black tips of the ears and the presence of a mane on the stomach and shoulders.
This classification is not the only one. There are others to which scientists can add other subspecies.
A notable species of these animals is the mountain lion. It is not very similar to its other relatives; it differs in size and habitat. The mountain lion is distributed throughout America. Its body is from 1 to 1.8 m in length, and its weight can reach 105 kg. This is significantly less than other subspecies. The mountain lion also lacks a mane. Color can vary from gray-brown to brown-yellow. Cougar cubs are born with dark spots and stripes on their bodies, but after 9 months of life these markings begin to fade. The mountain lion prefers to live alone. The exception is the mating season and the time of raising cubs.
Another subspecies that may be interesting is the cave lion. It is included in some classifications, despite the fact that the cave lion is an extinct species, and it became extinct several thousand years ago. During their lifetime, these animals inhabited Siberia and Europe. The cave lion is one of the ancestors of modern lions. The cave lion was larger than its descendants. If you believe the images of these animals, they did not have a mane, or it was very small. It is not known for sure, but there is an assumption that this subspecies of animals also united in prides.
Despite its name, the cave lion never lived in caves. They were chosen by old and sick individuals shortly before death, which is why the largest number of remains of these animals were found there. That's why the cave lion was named so. The cave lion hunted deer and bears. This is how scientists explain the extinction of these animals. With the onset of warming, the number of bears and deer decreased, and the cave lion was not adapted to a different diet.
Black and white lions
A lion is an animal that has many interesting features. One feature concerns the coloring. Some classifications mention varieties such as white lion and black lion. But this is wrong. If a lion with a dark or black mane is a real existing subspecies, then animals with white or black coloring are considered an anomaly.
At the same time, it cannot be said that a lion with an exotic coloring is a fiction. There is a genetic mutation called leucism. Because of it, the fur of animals turns white. This occurs due to a lack of melanocytes. The result is the appearance of an animal such as a white lion. One might assume that this is an albino lion, but the color of its eyes, which can be either blue or gold, says otherwise.
The white lion is almost no different in its characteristics from other representatives of the species. It is slightly larger than the others. Their weight can reach 310 kg, and the male’s body length exceeds 3 m. The females of such animals are slightly smaller - 2.7 m. A lion with white fur changes color slightly throughout its life, and by old age its body acquires an ivory shade.
The black lion, according to many scientists, does not exist in nature. They consider photos and videos of such animals found online to be the result of shooting in the dark or special processing. Some suggest that, as opposed to albinism, there is a phenomenon of melanism, in which there is too much pigment in the fur of animals. This is possible in jaguars and leopards. As a result of crossing, a lion with a dark shade of fur may be born, but this is only an accident, so there is no need to separate such animals into a separate subspecies.
Since ancient times, the power has been recognized lion V animal world nature. His depictions in cave paintings, sculptures, coats of arms and flags indicate strength and authority.
In Ancient Egypt, man saw the beast as a powerful god of the earth. To this day he is called the king of beasts or king - lion, and protect from destruction one of the largest and most interesting animals on the ground.
Features and habitat
Among cats, only those whose size is not inferior to the king’s can enter into competition with a lion. The weight of the animal reaches 200-250 kg, the length of the body of an adult animal is almost 2.5 m, to which is added about a meter of tail with a black hair tassel. Inside there is a “spur” of terminal vertebrae, an additional weapon of the predator. Large dimensions do not prevent the animal from being agile and fast.
Males are distinguished by a mane that grows from the age of 2 and covers the body from neck to chest. The color of the mane darkens as the animal ages, adding even more significance. It is generally accepted that such a dense and elastic woolen mop softens the blows of opponents in fights.
The photo shows a male lion
The length of the mane hair reaches 40 cm. Its thickness, shape and color depend on many factors: age, habitat, subspecies, climate, living conditions. In captivity, the mane of lions is always more luxuriant, since it does not have to be ruffled in thickets or duels.
The production of testosterone has a great influence on the formation of a mop of wool, so among lions the leader status is always with the owner of an outstanding mane. Lionesses are smaller in size, their weight is up to 140 kg, but they are more graceful than their partners, since they are the main hunters of the clan. The majestic mane and massive dimensions would interfere with tracking down prey.
The photo shows a lioness
The head of the beast is large, with an elongated muzzle and large jaws. Fangs up to 8 cm long will allow hunters to attack large animals. The body is muscular, the paws are strong, with retracted claws on the toes. The short hair on the body can be colored from whitish-gray to yellow-brown.
Main relatives lion in nature: jaguar, tiger and - animals of Africa. Their existence is confirmed by fossil remains, the age of which is estimated to be up to 1 million years.
Once upon a time, in ancient times, the habitat of lions was much larger than the present: it covered the entire territory of Africa, the Middle East, southern Europe, the south of present-day Russia, and the northwestern part.
The persecution of the animal by humans and the reduction of its habitat have become disastrous for the predator. It remains in nature only in sub-Saharan Africa and the Gir forest of the Indian state.
Of the 12 subspecies that existed, six have survived in modern times. Among the extinct subspecies is the famous Barbary a lion, the largest wild animal from relatives. The weight of the giants exceeded 300 kg, and the body length was over 3 m. The last representative of the species was exterminated in 1922.
White Lion not identified as an independent subspecies animal. The cream color of the fine coat is the result of genetic characteristics. South African captive breeders raise these to order for trophy purposes.
In the photo there is a white lion
Savannas are the favorite habitats of lions, but sometimes they move to forests or areas overgrown with bushes. Animals need large bodies of water and ungulate mammals - their main hunting objects.
Character and lifestyle of a lion
Among cats, lions are distinguished by the formation of a separate family group, or pride. It consists of several adult individuals, as well as their offspring. Young lion cubs leave their parent pride after reaching puberty.
They become loners for the time being, until they find a new pride with an old leader who will give in to the strong, or they remain nomads for the rest of their lives. A pride lives by certain rules that group members obey. Strangers are expelled here, males protect their territory, family ties play a connecting role.
Pictured is a pride of lions
The main breadwinners during the hunt are lionesses. Their advantage is agility, flexibility and speed. Success depends on consistency and the manifestation of Leo qualities. The productivity of hunting by an animal in a group is obvious, but the division of the prey depends on the male, if he is nearby. It should be noted that lions are aggressive towards each other while consuming food.
Males rarely hunt on their own, but if they catch the prey, the lion feeds alone. The mane increases physical activity and contributes to body overheating, so the main role of hunters belongs to females. Each predator in the pride performs a specific mission: breadwinner, guard of territory, protector of offspring.
Photo of lionesses on the hunt
The greatest activity of predators occurs after sunset. Excellent night vision contributes to successful hunting. After lions indulge in rest and caring for their offspring. Which animal can be seen in the circle of relatives during the day.
The king of beasts has practically no enemies due to his large size and strength. But death and injury befall the animals in the struggle for the place of leader in the pride. Males are not inferior to rivals in cases of collisions. Sick or injured animals weaken and become victims of hyenas, buffalos or leopards.
Large predators suffer from small ticks that infect areas where the animal cannot reach an area of the body with its teeth or paws. Eating animal meat leads to infection with helminths. Diseases force prides to migrate to maintain numbers.
Lion food
The diet of predators consists mainly of artiodactyl animals: livestock, antelopes, zebras and others Savannah animals. a lion Even carrion and small rodents will not be missed. Despite the sharp and long fangs, the predator strangles its victims.
The ability to sneak up silently and then jump at the victim with lightning speed leaves no chance of salvation for many inhabitants of the savannah. The lion is strong and fast over short distances, so it gets as close as possible to herds for rapid leaps. This distance is approximately 30 m. Several predators of the same pride attack from different sides simultaneously.
Hunting takes place more often at night. One successful outing provides 4-5 pride animals with enough food for a week. The victims are ungulates weighing from 50 to 300 kg. In Africa, these are more often wildebeest, zebras, and buffalos; in India, deer. Attacks on rhinoceroses or adult giraffes are rare due to the risk of injury.
The choice of prey depends on their availability in the region; in large individuals, the predator is interested in young animals or injured and weakened individuals. At one time, a lion can eat up to 30 kg of meat, although 7 kg for a male and 5 kg for a female are enough to satiate.
If prey needs to be preserved, then lions guard it from agile hyenas, attracted by the flight of vultures over the food. Hunting unites the pride: males come to the rescue in case of a large victim, and the offspring observe the actions of the adults.
Lion cubs begin to go out for their first hunting attempts at the age of 1 year, and from the age of 2 years they independently obtain food. Attacks on humans are typical for animals that have lost the ability to hunt ungulates.
Reproduction and lifespan
Sexual maturity of lionesses occurs at 4 years of age. The birth of offspring is not tied to seasons, so there may be cubs of different ages next to the mother. Pregnancy lasts up to 110 days, and the litter, as a rule, consists of 3 cubs. After birth, they are completely helpless: small in size, up to 30 cm long and approximately 1.5 kg in weight, and blind. They begin to see after a week, and walk after three weeks.
In the photo there are lion cubs
From the place where the babies are born, remote and hidden from the pride, the female transfers the offspring to a new rookery. He does this often to protect the cubs from predators who smell the accumulated odor. , are famous lovers of hunting little lion cubs. The lioness returns to the pride after 6-8 weeks.
If the main male in a pride gives way to a stronger one, then the offspring of the former leader have no chance of surviving. The cubs will be destroyed. There are enough threats and risks for the survival of babies, so only 20% of them grow up after two years.
In a pride, lion cubs stay close to their mother; other females do not always allow other people’s babies to approach them. But there are cases when lion nurseries are formed from cubs under the supervision of one lioness while others hunt.
At the age of 4-5 years, young individuals who have left their native pride try to win the place of the old leader in someone else’s family. If the females support him, he will win. Many weakened lions die in defense of the pride.
The life of predators in nature is up to 15 years, and in captivity it increases significantly to 20-30 years. An animal's presence in a pride prolongs its life, in contrast to exiled individuals leading a wandering lifestyle. The royal greatness of the beast is revealed when surrounded by its pride, which is perhaps why people are so interested in this predator with family values.
