Lions live in groups called prides, which may include up to 40 lions. Each pride has a home area called its territory, essential for their survival as it provides the pride’s food and water sources. Territories can be as large as 260 square kilometres (100 square miles). Where lions live most of the time, it is warm.
Manes make male lions look larger, which may function to intimidate rivals and impress prospective mates. Lions primarily hunt and eat medium-sized to large hoofed animals such as wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes, and may occasionally prey on larger animals, particularly if they are sick or injured.
The lion is a large cat with a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is a social species, forming groups called prides, which consist of a few adult males, related females, and cubs.
The life cycle of a lion starts when a lioness gives birth to cubs. The newborn cubs are blind and helpless, staying close to their mother for 2-3 months. They leave the pride upon reaching sexual maturity. While wild lions live for about 8 to 10 years, those in captivity can live up to 25 years.
Lions are listed as "Vulnerable" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, with the population having decreased by 42% between 1993 and 2014. Adequate habitats and prey species are crucial for lion populations, and conservation efforts aim to protect these animals from threats such as habitat loss and human-wildlife conflicts.