Species Spotlight: African Lion

Lion standing in Serengeti National Park.

Questions and Answers

Why do lions hunt at night?
Lions sleep up to 20 hours a day, so most of their hunting is done at night or early in the morning. This is because their eyes easily adapt to the dark, and it is easier to sneak up on prey at night.

Are lions affectionate with one another?
Lions are very sociable big cats and seem to enjoy interacting with other pride members with lots of head rubbing, grooming, and playing. Most of the females in a pride are related and have close bonds – mothers, daughters, aunts, cousins etc.

What is protected by protecting a lion’s landscape?
By protecting a lion’s landscape, we’re protecting an ecosystem, which also benefits wildlife and the people who rely on local natural resources.

Habitat

Even though the lion is sometimes referred to as the “king of the jungle,” it actually only lives in grasslands and plains.
DIet

Lions are carnivores that predominantly hunt and kill medium-sized mammals.
Threats

Lions face increasing threats like climate change, poaching, loss of habitat, and loss of prey.
Interesting Fact

Male lions defend the pride’s territory while females do most of the hunting. Despite this, the males eat first.