Page 82 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

80  WILD SOUTH AFRIC A

Lion
The largest terrestrial predator in Africa, the lion is the most sociable and least secretive
of the world’s 36 cat species. Unusually among felids it seldom takes to the trees, and the
adult male sports a regal blond or black mane. For most people, the charismatic “king of
the jungle” is the ultimate African safari icon, so much so that it is often easy to forget
that lions once ranged widely across Eurasia. Today, South Africa’s lions are confined to a
few protected areas. Elsewhere they have been hunted to extinction, and the continental
population has plunged by an estimated 75 per cent since 1990.

Lions are remarkably indolent
creatures, spending up to
20 hours a day at rest. Though
seldom active in the heat of
the day, they often cover
long distances at night.

Family and Breeding
The most sociable of cats, the lion generally lives in
prides of five to ten animals, including an adult
male, a few adult females and their offspring. Larger
prides also occur, often involving male coalitions;
one such grouping, active in Sabi Sands in 2010,
had five adult males, four of them siblings. Prides
defend their territories, which cover anything from
20 to 200 sq km (8–77 sq miles). Take over battles are
often fought to the death and result in the usurper Females in a pride give birth more or less
killing all existing cubs, thereby encour aging the simultaneously and rear their cubs cooper­
females back into oestrus sooner. Lions undergo an atively. Large prides consist of up to half a
extra ordinary mating ritual. A male and female dozen lionesses and their offspring. Females
pair off, mating briefly but violent ly at gradually usually stay with their birth pride, but young
increas ing intervals of 12–25 minutes for up to males are forced out by the dominant male
3 days, after which they return to their pride. when they reach sexual maturity.

What You Might See
The first lion sighting often results in
disappointment, as the animals loll
indifferently in the shade. Observe them for
a while, however, and one is bound to see
exciting interactions. It is always worth
staying with an isolated female and male pair,
as they may well start mating; and if a lioness Rivalry between adult Grooming and social licking
is lying low in the grass, looking intently into males can be intense and are an important part of the
the distance, odds are she is part of a hunt. fights are often to the death. daily ritual in any lion pride.

IUCN status VU: Vulnerable

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