5 Interesting Facts about Lions
Lions. Location: Masai Mara, Kenya
When in the African bush, for me, the challenge and excitement of tracking lions is certainly one of my favorite things to do, and there’s no better sight than coming across lions.
Lions are symbols of courage and power, majesty, strength, justice, and the military. Their sheer presence when encountering them in the bushveld is quite remarkable. However, most often than not, lion sightings consist of stumbling upon a sleeping pride. Especially in the heat of the day. If you are wanting to focus on seeing lions while on safari, it is recommended to start early in the morning or late afternoon as it is cooler and they are most active.
Lions have no natural predators and therefore are top of the food chain in their ecosystem. They are important for regulating populations of herbivores in their habitats, which helps maintain the grasslands and forests where these animals reside. Lionesses are the hunters of the pride and even though they are physically smaller than male lions, they make up for it in speed. They are in fact up to 30% faster than male lions, reaching speeds of up to 50mph! the females hunt together in packs, effectively increasing their chances of capturing their prey.
Interesting Facts about Lions
- Lions are very social animals which is why their group, or pride, can be up to 40 lions
- Female lions are the main hunters. While they’re out hunting, the males guard the pride’s territory and their cubs
- A lion’s roar can be heard up to 8 kilometers away!
- Lions scent mark their territory, using their urine, to create a perimeter
- A pride’s territory can extend up to 100 square meters
- Lions can run up to 50 mph in short bursts and can jump up to 36 feet.