The King of Beasts! Lions are one of the most powerful and dangerous animals. About 250 people each year are killed by lions. However, people are more dangerous to lions than they are to us. People usually kill lions to protect themselves and their livestock. There are only about 23,000 lions today. 

Lions live in groups called prides. Each pride may have up to 40 lions. Most of a pride is made up of females and young ones. There is usually only one male. Other males live alone or they may live in their own groups.

livestock: farm animals

Lions are 4.5-6.5 feet long (1.4 - 2 metres), not counting the tail. 

Females weigh about 280 pounds (126 kg), and males about 420 pounds (190 kg).

Lions have strong, powerful bodies because they need to hunt other animals for food. They also need to protect the pride from other dangerous animals. 

Many people think the male lion is lazy because the females do the hunting, but not so! The male lion is responsible  for guarding the pride's territory. He also guards the cubs while the females are away hunting. 

territory: their land

Lions are carnivores. This means that they hunt and kill animals for food. They are big eaters! Lions can eat 40kg of food in one meal. They mostly eat large animals, such as antelope, zebra and wildebeest.

Lions hunt by night. They have excellent eyesight and see well in the dark. 

The lionesses do the hunting in groups of 2-3. 

Most of the time, they cannot kill the animal so they must try again and again!

When they kill an animal, the male lion eats first, then the females and finally, cubs.

A lion baby is called a cub. Mother lions may have 2-3 cubs at a time. A group of babies is called a litter.

The females in a pride usually have cubs at the same time. They help take care of each other's cubs. 

Newborn cubs cannot see or walk and they have no teeth. They drink milk until 5-6 months of age. They are able to follow their mother around when they are about 2-3 months old. When they are 2 years old, they can look after themselves.