Where does the lion live?
Today the lion lives only in sub-Saharan Africa and India. It inhabits grasslands, savannas and shrublands. In the Neolithic it ranged across Africa and Eurasia, from south-eastern Europe to India. Only fragmented populations remain in Africa, plus one population in western India of about 300 individuals in Gir Forest National Park. Outside protected areas, lion populations cannot sustain themselves.
What does the lion eat?
The lion is an apex predator: it hunts mostly medium-sized and large hoofed mammals. It is more active by day than other wild cats, but adapts to the night when it is persecuted. Unlike other cats, it lives in groups called prides: related females with their cubs, and one or a few males. Lionesses usually hunt together, while the male, recognisable by his mane, mainly defends the territory. An adult male eats about 7 kg of meat a day.
Is the lion endangered?
Yes: the IUCN has listed it as Vulnerable since 1996. Between 1993 and 2017 its population fell by about 43%. Only 16,500 to 30,000 lions are thought to remain in the wild in the African savanna, according to Wikipedia.
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