Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

FIELD GUIDE  81

Lion Feeding KEY FACTS
Hunting is normally a team effort undertaken by females,
who rely on stealth more than speed. A common strategy is Panthera leo
for one or two lionesses to herd their prey in the direction of Local names: Mbube (Zulu),
other pride members lying hidden in tall grass. Males seldom Shumba (Shangaan), Leeu
take part in a hunt but are quick to (Afrikaans)
exercise their feeding rights once a
kill is made. Favoured prey includes Size Shoulder height: 100–
130 cm (40–50 inches);
antelope, and large Weight: up to 280 kg (617 lb).
prides can even
bring down a Lifespan 12–15 years.
giraffe or a Population in South Africa
buffalo. 2,500–3,000.
A large male lion takes first
pickings on a fresh giraffe kill Conservation Status VU.
Gestation Period
105–112 days.
Reproduction Females
reach sexual maturity at
3 years and give birth to
litters of two to six cubs every
18 months.
Habitat Most often in
savannah, but range into all
except desert and rainforest.
Top Places to See
Kruger, Sabi Sands, Kgalagadi,
Madikwe, Pilanesberg.
Communication and Voice Sighting Tips
Adult lions are most active around dusk and dawn, but cubs See resting prides in the day.
inter act throughout the day, playing and mock-fighting for Return at dawn or dusk to
catch them in action.
hours on end. Subordinate individuals frequently stop to
greet or groom dominant pride members, especially when Friends and Foes
they reunite after a period apart. The most common call, Lions are thought of as regal
made by females as well as males, is a series of far-carrying hunters and hyenas as
moaning grunts that increase in scaven gers, but lions are as
volume, then fade away. As likely to steal a carcass from
dominant males often move hyenas as kill it themselves.
separately from the main pride
(regrouping after a kill), this Facts and Trivia
characteristic sound of the A Setswana expression used
African night has the dual in tough times translates as
purpose of advertising the “I’ve still got the lion by the
caller’s presence to the balls” – the implication being
pride and warning rivals A cub displays submissiveness to one that if you lose your grip,
off its territory. of the adult males in the pride you’re in trouble!

The main diet of lions in South Cubs spend much time mock- A mating bout often lasts for
Africa comprises antelopes and fighting and playing with each less than a minute and is accom-
other ungulates. other, and sometimes with adults. panied by growling and hissing.

IUCN status VU: Vulnerable

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