For centuries, the lion has been considered "King of the Beasts" because of its strength and hunting prowess. For a hundred years, game hunters form all over the world have descended on Africa to demonstrate their hunting skills by shooting them. While some lion prides are thriving, as they are in the [P 006 / Serengeti] and Mara areas, some subspecies are now extinct and others are endangered because of loss of habitat resulting from human population pressures.
Most lions are territorial and live in prides. They are typically found in wooded areas where food and water are readily available. The Seronera Valley and the Masai Mara Reserve are famous for their large lion prides, ranging in size from 5 or 6 to 40 related females and one or two males. The males are the defenders of the territory while females provide food for the pride and raise the cubs. Male lions, often related, have a range which may include prides without males and mate with receptive females from the pride. Other lions are not part of a pride and have no fixed territories. They roam alone or in small groups of individuals which are often related.
The lioness gives birth and keeps her cubs in hidden areas, often in thickets or [G 26 / kopjes]. Cubs are born with their eyes closed and are largely helpless. Their eyes open between two and three weeks and they are able to walk about the same time. The lioness moves her cubs, until they are six weeks old, by picking them up by the backs of their necks with her teeth. When lionesses within the same pride give birth around the same time, they care for the cubs jointly and allow other cubs to suckle.
Because many of the ungulates they prey on are able to run as fast or faster than they are, the element of surprise is critical. The lion will stalk their prey, getting within 100 feet before charging. Once the prey is slapped or dragged to the ground, it stands little chance of escaping. Like other large cats, it suffocates its prey by biting the throat. When several lions hunt together they partially encircle the prey cutting off potential escape routes which increase their chances of a successful hunt. They are the only predator which kills healthy adult wildebeest routinely when the wildebeest migrate into their territories.
Lions may only hunt every three or four days, but because of their [L3 501 / size] and high daily food requirements, 11 - 16 pounds of meat, they supplement their own kills with scavenging [G 07 / carrion] from other predators. Lions sometimes locate food by watching for circling vultures and moving towards the whoops of the hyenas celebrating their kill.
