PRINT A4 - ZOO Lion

The lion, Panthera leo, is a member of the cat family and, after the tiger, the largest living cat species. It typically inhabits the savanna, grasslands and areas near woodlands where there is enough vegetation for lions to hide during the hot midday hours and while hunting.
The lion is the only cat that lives in a pride, and pride sizes vary from a few individuals up to about 30 members. The pride consists of a group of related females with cubs and one or more outside males. It is a thoroughly social cat that hunts together. When the females are pregnant at roughly the same time, they share nursing and caring for the cubs.

The lion's coat is sand-coloured, while the chest and belly are lighter. The difference between the sexes is easy to see from the impressive mane of the male, which develops when he reaches about three years of age.
The cubs are more greyish in colour and carry distinct brown camouflaged spots until they are around three months old.

The male lion, as in many other species, is larger than the female and can weigh up to 250 kg. In the wild males rarely live longer than 10–14 years, as their constant fights with other males shorten their lifespan. In captivity, however, they can live for more than 20 years.

The lion is the savanna's laziest animal, but conversely the most dangerous predator when hunting. If a male lion is part of a pride with females, he lets them provide the food. Afterwards he may chase them away and take his share of the spoils himself.

All art prints in the zoo series are also available in A3