About African Lions
Lions are the only social cat species. They live in a social structure known as a pride. Each pride differs in size and formation, but a typical pride consists of one to two males and seven females with any number of cubs. The male must defend his pride from other males that attempt to take his position. A male will lose and gain control of different prides throughout his life. Most males only hold dominance over a pride for 2-3 years.
The lion has long been admired as the “king of beasts”, but it is the lioness, the “queen of beasts,” that forms the basis of the pride. Females do most of the hunting in groups. They will stalk the prey, surround it, move in from all sides and then attack. The lioness must rely on her keen sense of sight to hunt.
The lioness hunts most of the time because she has a sleek body and can be better camouflaged without the large mane. Hunts take place at twilight when the temperature is coolest and there is little light.
A lion/lioness can run up to 35 miles per hour for a short distance and can jump up to 35 feet. The lion/lioness hunts large animals that weigh 100-600 pounds.
The lion is the largest of the African cats. The adult lion is larger than the adult lioness. He weighs an average of 330-500 pounds. She weighs an average of 265-395 pounds. The adult male has a mane of long hair that makes him appear larger than he actually is.
African Lion at the Akron Zoo
The lions can be found in the Landon & Cynthia Knight Pride of Africa area. There are two prides that alternate time in the public habitat. On their days not out in the public habitat, the pride enjoys time outside in a private yard.
Pride 1
- Tamarr – male, born Aug. 25, 2005
- Mandisa – female, born July 19, 2008
Pride 2
- Donovan – male, born Aug. 20, 2015
- Kataba – female, born June 25, 2014
- Msinga – female, born June 26, 2014