How long does a lion live : lifespan of male and female lions, in the wild or in captivity. Information about the habitat and where to see it in its natural habitat.
The lion is an animal that fascinates many: it is often the subject of tattoos and is considered the King of the Jungle . Its scientific name is Panthera leo , this predatory mammal, in fact, is a feline of the genus Panthera. According to the official IUCN list, it is a vulnerable species and its range is progressively decreasing. Today, the lion lives almost exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa and the threats are many, the first is the impoverishment of its natural habitat, the second threat is poaching.
While you were wondering how long a lion lives , you probably didn’t ask yourself about the entire existence of the species. Yet, in recent years, there has been a significant decline in the number of lions living in the wild.
How long does a lion live?
A lion lives from 10 to 14 years in the wild. Some specimens can reach up to 16 years of life. The lifespan of a lion, in captivity, varies greatly. How long does a lion live? In captivity, the life of a lion can reach even more than 20 years.
There is a difference between the average lifespan of a lion and a lioness . Lionesses tend to live longer, while in the wild, males often do not live more than 10-11 years. Why do male lions live less than females? According to animal biology and zoology studies, males live less because of injuries resulting from fights with rivals, for dominance over females and the pride.
How much does a lion weigh?
Of the Panthera genus, the lion is among the most majestic. How big is a lion and how much does it weigh? Some males can weigh up to 250 kg. It is precisely because of its size and habits that this feline cannot be bred outside of protected areas, natural parks or suitable zoos.
In captivity, lack of physical activity and overfeeding can give rise to striking cases of obesity. One male, in particular, managed to reach a record body mass of 375 kg. The lion in question was called Simba, who lived in the Colchester Zoo, in Great Britain. In nature, such dimensions are impossible to reach, even by the currently extinct lion subspecies that once reached a weight of 300 kg.
Where do lions live?
Lions see their natural habitat in the savannah and grasslands, but they can also adapt to bushy and forest areas, which are richer in trees and shrubs .
The lion lives in a pride
While other felines are solitary , lions have more “social” habits. The pride is generally made up of an “alpha” male or female who act as “leader of the pride” and a group of females and males who are related to each other (cousins, siblings, etc.) and their offspring. When they live together in the same pride, the alpha male and female can be blood relatives (brother and sister). The alpha male mates with the females of the pride (or in any case he is the one who mates first, the other males of the pride will also mate). Male lion cubs must leave the pride as soon as they reach sexual maturity, and the alpha leader of the pride will send them away.
How big is a lion?
As mentioned, the average weight is 250 kg but there are subspecies of lion , such as the Atlas Lion that lived in North Africa, could weigh up to 300 kg and reach a length of 350 meters. Generally, lions have a body length ranging from 170 to 250 cm in males and from 140 to 180 cm in females.
The Lioness
There is a marked sexual dimorphism that does not only concern size. The lioness has no mane. The thick mane is iconic of the male.
White lion
The white lion is very rare. White lions can occasionally be found in Timbavanti, South Africa. From a genetic point of view, the white color of the coat is linked to the presence of a recessive gene and we can speak of a condition known as “leucism” that causes a pale coloration of the coat. The white lion, therefore, is not a species in itself. In particular, the white lion is more frequent in the subspecies Panthera leo krugeri that lives in the Kruger National Park.
How long does a white lion live? The life expectancy of a white lion is identical to that of a common lion except for hunting. The lion has no natural predators other than man. In lion hunting, the white lion can be spotted more easily as it does not camouflage easily in the savannah.