A huge, second largest continent (after Eurasia) on Earth. Its area is 29.2 million square kilometers, with islands 30 million square kilometers. This is 6% of the entire earth's surface and 20.4% of land. 55 countries are located on the African continent, its population exceeds one billion people.
African Wildlife: Lions
The fauna of this vast continent is very diverse. However, the generally accepted king of animals is the lion. There is no doubt about that. Just look at this powerful and proud animal. Interestingly, the native Africans awarded the lions this title also because they can look at the sun for a very long time without blinking. Although many of the cat breeds have this ability.
Lions of Africa have a bright and expressive appearance - commanding eyes, head position, luxurious mane indicate the power of this giant.
The height of an adult male reaches one meter, and weight - two hundred kilograms. The female is more graceful and graceful - her weight rarely exceeds one hundred and forty kilograms.
Animals of Africa: lion - features, external signs
This is the only feline with a mane. Only males possess it, in which it begins to grow from about two years old. With a five-year-old king of animals, it can reach a length of twenty-four centimeters.
The lion's mane is an indicator of the animal’s health. According to her condition, a specialist can determine the presence of any diseases, and even the mood of the beast. The tail of the predator is also impressive - long, thin and extremely strong, with a brush on the end. The coat of lions is short, yellowish-sand in color on the back. On the sides it is lighter.
Habitat
Currently, African lions inhabit the entire continent, except the lower Nile valley. These are very strong and hardy predators, second only to tigers. Lions of Africa prefer to settle in open spaces where there are many ponds and there is the opportunity to hunt for ungulates.
The territory that is occupied by one family is strictly limited. But everything that is on it belongs only to these lions - from a blade of grass to a tree.
Lifestyle
It is very interesting to watch the wild world of Africa. Lions attract researchers by building “relationships” in the family. This is a really interesting point. Lions of Africa live by prides (large families). Such a family can count from twenty to thirty individuals. Among them there may be three to four adult males, as many females, as well as their offspring - young lions and cubs. The family is led by an old and wise leader.
The laws of the pride are quite simple and understandable - do not offend lion cubs, you only have to sleep and hunt a lot if absolutely necessary, that is, when the food comes to an end. A lion will never go hunting until he has at least some food.
It should be noted that in the lion’s family there is no strict distribution of “earner” and “housewife”. In savannas, females hunt more often, and the male protects the family. True, most often this boils down to lazy half-asleep, in the shade of a tree - he does not look for enemies, attacks only those who, before his eyes, unceremoniously begin to hunt on his territory. From time to time he emits a formidable roar, which sounds ten kilometers. This is a preventive measure - the king of animals informs the district that the territory is occupied.
It should be noted that the female did not just assume the responsibility of obtaining food. The males are too large and noticeable - it is extremely difficult for them to get to the victim imperceptibly in the savannah. In forest areas, a male goes hunting.
Breeding
Pregnancy of a female African lion lasts from one hundred to one hundred and ten days. Shortly before birth, the lioness leaves the pride. The female does not leave her offspring within six weeks. Three to five cubs are born, weighing no more than two kilograms. They are blind and completely helpless. They open their eyes on the tenth day, the first timid steps they take on the twentieth day.
The lioness goes hunting, leaving the kids alone. In order to prevent other predators from detecting cubs by smell, the female changes to another den several times a month.
When the baby turns 1.5 months old, a caring mother brings lion cubs to a large family. Lion cubs feed on mother’s milk for up to six months. An interesting observation - a lioness has a different attitude to her offspring. Mothers love females more than males. When a father dies in a pride, another male destroys all his sons. In this case, the lioness can remain completely indifferent. But she will never offend females. Such harsh laws are dictated by wild Africa. Lions that have reached two or three years of age are expelled from the pride. Females stay with their mother forever.
Males begin an independent life, creating their own families, or adjoin another pride. There are frequent cases when they live alone or create a couple for the rest of their lives.
