Leo is the undisputed king of beasts in human imagination. He lives in the savannah and does not tolerate loneliness, preferring to share his home with his brothers. But his life changes a lot when he is in captivity.
The lion is the second largest representative of the feline family, a powerful beast, the power of which is enough to knock its prey to the ground with one blow.
Habitat
The best habitat for a lion is one that has enough prey to hunt and feed. Adapted not to drink for months, these predators will not survive even several days without meat. The best option is savannas with sparsely growing trees and shrubs, in which lions hide from the scorching sun. They will not dwell in deserts and tropical forests.
Today, the geography of lions is very scanty: this is Africa - the continent below the Sahara desert, and the western part of India - the Gir forest. Due to the widespread extermination of these animals, they are listed in the Red Book, and now their small populations are supported in every possible way.
Lion prides
A rare lion will agree to live alone. Predatory animals live in small groups - prides, on lands strictly assigned to their "family". The invasion of the border ends with a deadly fight between the dominant male and the stranger, so these representatives of felines respect other flocks and will never enter their territory without a good reason.
The basis of the lion family is made up of related females - their number can range from 2 to 18. Several males live with them, among which the leader stands out - the strongest individual. The leader is entitled to the best bite from the prey, but also suffers first, zealously protecting his cubs and their mothers from enemies.
The size of the hunting grounds is much larger, the lions spend most of their time on them, returning home only to eat their prey and rest in the grass or on the massive branches of trees. If the predator is full, his heroic sleep can be up to 20 hours.
Lions are perfectly oriented and recognize each other visually - by the color and rise of the mane, as well as by the smell, they unmistakably determine where their home is and where is someone else's territory.
There are young solitary lions that migrate from one pride to another, trying to conquer territory and dominance.
"Home" of a lion in captivity
In zoos, circuses, safari parks, lions are kept in cages or aviaries to ensure the safety of visitors. In reserves, zoologists are trying to create conditions for them, similar to the usual ones, allocating hundreds of kilometers for an artificial savanna. In captivity, lions live longer, thereby preserving and multiplying their endangered species.
