Lions

STATUS: Vulnerable

ABOUT

Living in the grasslands, scrub, and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, the African lion is the largest big cat in Africa and the second largest in the world.  The African lion, throughout history, has always been an admirable creature and for some is seen as a symbol of courage and strength. 

Unlike other cats, the African lion is a very social animal.  The lions live in groups, called prides, which consist normally of up to three males, a dozen related females, and their young.  The size of the pride is determined by the availability of food and water within the natural grasslands.  If resources are scarce, the pride becomes smaller which unfortunately is an ongoing problem.

Pride members keep track of one another by roaring.  Both males and females have a very powerful roar that can be heard up to 5 miles away.  Males and females take on very different roles in the pride.  Male lions spend their time guarding their territory while female lions spend their time hunting for food and looking after their cubs.  Female lions often work together to prey upon antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and other large animals of the open grasslands.  Many of these animals are faster than the African lion, but teamwork pays off when they roam in packs.

Male lions take seriously their responsibility to maintain the boundaries of their territory, an area which could be as large as 100 square miles. They do this by roaring, marking the territory with their urine and chasing off any intruders who come close.  Unique to male lions are their manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their head.  Their thick manes protect their necks when they fight with challengers.  

Today there are sadly only half as many lions in the wild compared to 25 years ago. Our charity partner Born Free estimates that fewer than 20,000 lions remain in Africa. The beloved African lion is now officially classed as a Vulnerable mammal facing extinction. The African lions face a number of threats, the majority of them caused by humans. Their habitat is used for farming, leading to conflict between people and lions. These leads to persecution and lions may be shot, speared, snared or poisoned. Poachers kill lions for their meat, bones and body parts and, unbelievably, people pay to kill lions for ‘trophies’. Meanwhile in captivity, lions are exploited in zoos, circuses, and as exotic pets. Born Free works to protect lions in the wild, fight captive exploitation, and rescue individuals in need – giving them loving care for life in sanctuaries. You can help! To find out more visit: https://www.bornfree.org.uk/animals/lions

The African lion really needs your help and Brnd & Co are working alongside animal charities to lessen these threats to the lion by contributing our donations.