Southern Lion

The English word lion is derived via Anglo-Norman liun from Latin leōnem (nominative: leō), which in turn was a borrowing from Ancient Greek λέων léōn. The Hebrew word לָבִיא lavi may also be related.

• Singular: African Lion, Southern Lion, Southern African Lion, East-Southern African Lion, Sub-Saharan Lion

• Plural: Southern Lions, etc.

Only males of the southern lion have full, dark manes that range in color from tawny to almost black due to climate and heredity. The thickest and darkest manes are frequently found on Kalahari lions, which are used for both insulation and show on chilly evenings. The southern lion's coat was golden-tan, with a pale or lighter belly and chin. The cubs' rosettes or spots resemble those of leopards, although these diminish with age. The southern lion possessed big forelimbs for grabbing prey, broad chests, and strong shoulders. Their tail tuft is always dark and frequently has a little rigid skin "spine" near the tip.

The southern lion and its populations are powerful hunters, with bite forces exceeding 650 PSI and the ability to take down game several times their size.

The females of the southern lion employ cooperative hunting strategies, such as ambushes, flanking, and pursuit. They can be heard roaring up to eight kilometers (five miles) distant. Within the pride, the southern lion was utilized for communication and territory defense.

The southern lion can travel up to 80 km/h (50 mph) in brief bursts, but only for a few seconds. The southern lion subspecies has exceptional night vision and is six times more sensitive to light than humans. The southern lion is a highly cooperative species with a well-organized hierarchy and sophisticated vocalizations, body position, and scent.

As an apex predator, the southern lion plays a trophic function by controlling populations of herbivores including zebras, antelopes, and wildebeests, as well as humans and livestock when necessary. The lion will keep the ecosystem in balance and stop overgrazing. Unquestionably opportunistic, the southern lion will steal kills from other predators whenever it can.

Buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, impala, giraffe, warthog, and rarely young elephants or rhinos are the southern lion's primary diet. But the only animals that fight for prey are hyenas, cheetahs, hippos, rhinos, humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and leopards; lions frequently have the upper hand.

Reproduction

Breeding system:

• Polygynous — one or a few dominant males mate with multiple females in the pride.

Mating frequency:

• Pairs may mate every 15–30 minutes over several days (~100 times per cycle).

Gestation:

• Around 110 days.

Litter size:

• 2–4 cubs on average.

Cub care:

• Females share nursing duties — an example of communal rearing.

Male role:

• Males guard the pride and territory but do not help raise cubs.

Survival:

• Only about 1 in 4 cubs survive to adulthood due to predation, starvation, or male takeovers.

Maturity:

• Females at ~3 years, males at ~5 years.

Lifespan:

• 10–14 years in the wild; up to 20 in captivity.

Like Asiatic lions, African lions live in social units called prides. This behavior is unique among cats, as all other feline species are relatively solitary. In Africa, these prides include an average of four to six females, their cubs and one to four male lions. The faster, more agile females do the hunting while the larger male lions patrol and defend the pride's territory. The females in a pride usually give birth at the same time and raise their cubs together in a crèche, or nursery.

Together with their northern relatives, southern lions are the only large cats that are genuinely gregarious. A coalition of males, related females, and their cubs make up a pride of lions. Depending on the availability of prey, each pride protects an area of 20–400 km². The lion is primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning it is active at dawn and dusk. In hot weather, lions can sleep for up to 20 hours every day. They communicate by roaring, grooming, nuzzling, scent marking, and verbal cues, all of which help to preserve group ties. The southern lion typically stays away from people. Lions do, however, occasionally attack cattle or, very infrequently, people (particularly in close proximity to communities). Safari vehicles may be tolerated in protected regions, although caution should be exercised when walking.

Fear and folklore were established by historical "man-eating lions," such as the Tsavo lions, but these incidents are uncommon and frequently result from disease, starvation, or habitat loss. The southern lion is a national symbol and cultural icon throughout Africa, minus half of north. It is a popular destination for ecotourism, including safaris and wildlife photography, and it plays a vital role in preserving the natural equilibrium through predation.

Southern and eastern Africa, encompassing Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya, were home to the southern lion. Its favored habitats are semi-arid desert, grassland, scrubland, and open savanna. There is a maximum elevation range of 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). The Serengeti (Tanzania), Okavango Delta (Botswana), Kruger (South Africa), and Etosha (Namibia) are the primary strongholds for this lion subspecies.

All subspecies of the lion will share their locations and habitats. 

• Movement Pattern: Random

• Individual Type: Pride

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: ???

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale.

• Earth: see below

  • Extant (Resident): Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo DR; Eswatini; Ethiopia; India; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Senegal; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe

  • Possibly Extinct: Ivory Coast; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Mali; Rwanda; Togo

  • Extinct: Afghanistan; Algeria; Burundi; Congo; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Gabon; Gambia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Lesotho; Libya; Mauritania; Morocco; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Sierra Leone; Syria; Tunisia; Turkiye; Western Sahara

Alpha lion cannot be tamed when it is an adult stage. Only in cub one was notable exceptions. Can be tamed the abandoned kitten using any raw fish or milk.

It was completely unethical and illegal to keep lions as pets anywhere in the world (except from sanctuaries with licenses). Their suitability is inappropriate in every situation since they are very risky, need a large amount of room, have a unique diet, and are socially complex.

This species is poorly cared for in captivity and frequently suffers from stress, hunger, and hostility; enrichment and moral treatment are the main goals of sanctuary care.

Coming soon

Earth

• Xhosa: ingonyama

• Yoruba: kiniun

• Zulu: ibhubesi

• Borean: Ziŋghô Sudranèr

  • Tagalog: leon

  • Indonesian: singa/leon

  • Maori: raiona

  • Thai: สิงโต (S̄ingto)

  • Navajo: Náshdóítsoh bitsiijįʼ daditłʼooígíí

  • Mandarin: 狮子 (shīzi)

  • Vietnamese: sư tử

  • Khmer: តោ (tao)

  • Lao: ຊ້າງ (sang)

  • Mizo: sakeibaknei

  • Japanese: 獅子/ライオン (shishi/raion)

  • Georgian: ლომი (lomi)

  • Finnish: leijona

  • Northern Sami: Ledjon

  • Hungarian: Oroszlán

  • Tamil: சிங்கம் (Ciṅkam)

  • Telugu: సింహం (Sinhaṁ)

  • Malayalam: സിംഹം (sinhaṁ)

  • Hebrew: אריה (aryeh)

  • Arabic: أسد ('asada)

  • Armenian: առյուծ (arryuts)

  • Hindi: सिंह (singh)

  • Urdu: شیر (sher)

  • Persian: شير‎ (shir)

  • Kurdish: Şêr

  • Irish: leon

  • Welsh: llew

  • French: lion/lionne

  • Spanish: león

  • Russian: лев (lev)

  • Ukrainian: лев (lev)

• Nahuatl: Cuāmiztli

• Aymara: liwuna

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_leo_melanochaita

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_leo_leo

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/African-Lion-876563132