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Caption: Africa's Lion: From Cubs to Kings
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Caption: While most cat species are solitary, lions are an exception—these big cats have developed a social system based on teamwork, division of labor, and an extended family unit.
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Caption: After a 110-day pregnancy, a lioness gives birth to tiny cubs that weigh just one percent of their eventual
adult weight.
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Caption: Litters vary from 1-6 cubs, (though the average is 2-3), and females in the same pride rear their young together—even suckling one another’s cubs.
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Caption: Once a cub reaches 18 months of age it begins to show signs of independence. While female cubs typically stay with the pride into which they are born, young males eventually leave to establish their own prides.
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Caption: A young male lion’s mane begins to show around two years of age, and reaches its full size between 4-5 years. The color of this iconic feature continues to darken until the cat is 9-10 years old.
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Caption: As in most cat species, adult male lions are much larger than females, presumably because of competition for mates. Males can weigh as much as 250 kg (550 lbs.), while females weigh up to 180 kg (395 lbs.).
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Caption: Lions have a reputation as being skilled hunters, but only 25 percent of lion hunts actually end in a kill. In fact, scavenged food provides over 50 percent of their diets.
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Caption: Sadly, the future for Africa’s most iconic cat is bleak. Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, the continent’s lion population has dropped by 42 percent in the
last 21 years.
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Caption: Human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, and hunting are driving this loss. At the current rate, lions will be extinct
by 2050.
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Caption: AWF needs your help to ensure Africa’s lions endure. Learn more about our solutions to this crisis, and see how your support can make a difference: http://bit.ly/LetsSaveLions
Caption: Photos: Stephen Ham
Patricia Bortolamei
Deltarain.com
Billy Dodson
Andy Austin
Barbara von Hoffmann / vonhoffmannphotography.com
Nancy Lewis
Craig R. Sholley
Phil Perry Wildlife Photography
Federico Veronesi / federicoveronesi.com
Caption: #lion #bigcats #animalkingdom #wildlife #nature #conservation #wildlifephotography #animals