Description

African Lion (Panthera leo) — The lion is a large, muscular cat native to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of India. Once the most widespread big cat, lions historically roamed across southern Europe, the Middle East, and much of Asia. Adult males are distinguished by their thick manes, varying in color from blond to black, which signal maturity and health. Females do most of the hunting, working cooperatively to bring down large prey such as wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo.

Lions are unique among cats for their social structure — prides typically consist of related females, their offspring, and a small coalition of males. Their deep roars can be heard up to 8 km away, used for communication and territorial defense. Despite their dominance in the savanna, lions face growing threats from habitat loss, conflict with humans, and prey depletion.