This World Lion Day, check out some facts you may not have known about these big cats!
Lions were once found throughout Africa, Asia and Europe but now exist only in Africa with one exception. The last remaining Asiatic lions are found in Sasan-Gir National Park in India, which was primarily created to protect the species.
A good gauge of a male lion’s age is the darkness of his mane. The darker the mane, the older the lion. The mane is also a sign of fitness and virility while giving them added protection when engaged in fighting.
Did you know that lions are the only big cats that live in groups? These groups are called PRIDES, which can include up to three male lions, up to a dozen lionesses and their young. And usually, all the lionesses in a pride are related!
A lion may sleep up to 20 hours a day, making them pretty much the laziest among the big cats.
And unlike the popular song that suggests they sleep in the mighty jungle, lions are actually found in grasslands and plains.
As is the case with most animals, the biggest threats to lions come from poaching and habitat loss. Asian lions number a little more than 500, while there are about 30,000-35,000 African lions in the wild.
WWF is working on a global scale for the conservation of lions and other big cats. You can stay updated on our work by joining our mailing list here.