Lion Panthera leo
Despite being second in size to tigers, lions are still known as the king of the jungle. Thank that regal mane for this title! The title is a little misleading since lions actually live in the grasslands and scrublands and not jungles.
Why are lions in our Wild Florida loop? Great question! We built a temporary habitat for them in this section of the Zoo as we await construction on their permanent home in Expedition Africa.
ORIGIN:
Sub-Saharan Africa
HABITAT:
Grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands
HEIGHT/WEIGHT:
Males: 330 to 550 pounds. Females: 265 to 395 pounds.
Length: 4.6 to 6.3 feet.
DIET:
Birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, eggs, carrion
PREDATORS:
No natural predators. Human-wildlife conflict.
NATURAL DEFENSES:
Retractable claws, powerful bite.
REPRODUCTION:
Sexual maturity at 2 years old.
THREATS:
Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, declining prey population, illegal wildlife trade, climate change
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
Average lifespan 13 yrs in human care
Coalition |
Herd |
Company | Pride |
Our animal information came from the following resources…
