African
Lions Biggest Of The Big Five And Most Cunning
 Interesting Information on African Lions
African Lion Photographs
How much does an African Lion weigh?
Weight Male: 180-250kg.
Weight Female: 110-180kg.
Life Expectancy of an African Lion:
12-20 years.
African Lion
Prey:
Mainly hoofed animals such as...
African Lions Habitat:
African Lions occur in most habitats with sufficient food but they avoid extreme desert and
forest.
African Lions, When Active:
At night (Nocturnal). Night time is
when African Lions do most of their hunting. Special Information on African Lions:
African Lions are cooperative carnivores and live
in prides of 3-25.Male African lions are the true leaders of
the pride and defend their home range with the
risk of losing their lives. There are normally 2 African male lions
that defend a territory, but there can be up to 6 males.
Male lions do not normally hunt when they
are with the
females and cubs, but when they are nomads they do. The
males that do not have a pride to look after or are too
old to compete with the younger generations hunt very
large mammals when there is an opportunity and have been
known to bring down fully grown Eland, Giraffe and Rhino!
The females are the main stay in the pride and are
normally all related. When there are food shortages the
females have been known to turn on the elders in the
pride. Such behavior is uncommon. The females form a
sisterhood and help each other when they are sick and
when they are raising their cubs. They even comfort
each other in their final days of life.
Media release: Man killed by Lions in KNP
Date: 2005-07-29
The Executive Director of the
Kruger National Park, Dr Bandile Mkhize
reacted with shock after hearing that a man was killed by lions after he
forced entry into the Kruger National Park yesterday evening (Thursday July
28, 2005).
“We wish to send our sincere sympathies to the man’s next of kin as we truly
regret the unnecessary loss of life,” said Dr Mkhize.
KNP rangers shot one of the lions, a male, in order to recover the man’s
body and are searching for the second lion, a female, as it is believed that
this lion could endanger the communities living near the Park.
The incident began at around gate closing time (17:30) last night when the
man eluded security guards manning Phalaborwa Entrance Gate and ran into the
bush near the gate.
KNP Rangers were immediately alerted and started looking for the man but,
because of the thick mopani bushveld and rapidly descending darkness, could
not locate him and the search had to be called off.
At first light, rangers resumed their search and eventually found the man’s
remains.
“The KNP takes this opportunity to stress to the neighbouring communities
living adjacent the Park that entering the park in this way is not only
highly dangerous, but it is also illegal,” Dr Mkhize concluded.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) are presently conducting a full
investigation into the incident. |
