About This Animal

1. King of the Jungle: Lions are often called the "King of the Jungle" even though they actually live in grasslands and savannas, not jungles.
2. Big Cats: Lions are one of the largest big cats, second only to tigers in size.
3. Pride Life: Lions live in groups called prides. A pride can have up to 30 lions, including several females, their cubs, and a few males.
4. Roaring Loud: A lion's roar can be heard from up to 5 miles (8 kilometers) away. They use it to communicate with their pride and to warn off intruders.
5. Fast Sprinters: Lions can run up to 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour) in short bursts, but they can’t maintain that speed for long.
6. Night Hunters: Lions do most of their hunting at night. They have excellent night vision, which helps them see their prey in the dark.
7. Carnivores: Lions are meat-eaters. Their diet mainly consists of large animals like zebras, wildebeests, and buffalo.
8. Lazy Cats: Lions spend a lot of time resting. They can sleep or rest for up to 20 hours a day!
9. Long Mane: Male lions have a mane, which is a thick, bushy growth of hair around their head. The mane makes them look larger and more intimidating.
10. Cubs: Lion cubs are born with spots on their fur, which disappear as they grow older. Cubs stay with their mothers for about two years before joining the pride's activities.
11. Social Cats: Unlike other big cats, lions are very social and enjoy living in groups, playing, and grooming each other.
12. Lifespan: In the wild, lions live for about 10-14 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 20 years.

Lions are truly fascinating creatures with lots of unique and interesting traits!