The African Lion is essentially a plains animal, but moves into other areas when food or circumstances affect its needs. It is a large cat which cannot retract its claws, and left alone with nature, is dependent on the wandering grazing herds of antelope, gnus and zebra, that frequent the plains of savanna Africa.
Contrary to stories and belief the lion is not an aggressive animal, and will only attack a human if hungry, or if its own is threatened. There are rogues, who being forced out of a pride will attack humans as they are easy prey in comparison to the quick and nimble game of the plains. Lions also climb trees, and are often found between the branches of the acacia thorn on a hot African afternoon.
Their habitat requires a number of essentials if they are to survive. Lions need the opportunity to hunt, and by that, it is meant they have a reasonable supply of fresh on the hoof meat. When the game is depleted by drought or famine, the Lion population also drops. When the game is plentiful, the Lion population increases. They require vantage points, from which they can view the animals within their territory. This can be a hill, a large ant heap, or even, as previously mentioned, a tree.
Lions do hunt alone, but they are skilled and determined group hunters. Males do very little when hunting, and unless they have to, leave most of the hunting to the females. After a kill, the senior male takes over, and only allows the others back when he has had his fill. When cubs are born outside of the pride, the female needs to protect them from the ruling male as they would be killed very quickly, the male needing to protect his domain from possible infidelity.
When lions have eaten, they are too comfortable to worry about passers by, and will allow animals and people to pass withing a few yards without getting annoyed. There are many scenes where plains animals are grazing freely while the lion sleeps off a hearty meal under a tree.
Many of the differing species of Lion are under threat, and the Black Mained Lion of the Southern Cape in Africa is already extinct after being shot to extinction. There are hunting lodges in Africa who specialise in breeding Lions purely for the hunt, and allow visitors to kill these magnificent beasts as a means of financial gain
The King of the Beasts is under threat, and if we are not careful, will be confined to a miserable existence in a zoo or quasi park.
