The lion, scientific name Panthero leo, is known as the king of the jungle, with amazing beauty and strength.

Lions can grow up to 2 metres long and weigh up to 191 kilograms, making them to second largest of the big cats (second only to the tiger). Only male lions have the long, majestic manes.

Their roar can be 25 times louder than a lawn mower and heard up to 8 kilometres away. They also communicate with touching, purring and scent markings.

Lions live in groups called prides. Each pride can have up to 3 males, around 12 females and their young cubs. Female cubs tend to stay with the pride as they grow up, whereas males will eventually leave.

Females are the primary hunters in the lion world, preying on zebras, wildebeest, antelopes and other large mammals. They have also been known to steal kills from other animals.

Today, lions are only found in sub-Saharan Africa along with a small population in India’s Gir Forest. It’s estimated that lion numbers have fallen to as little as 25,000 in Africa due to habitat loss, displacement, disease and hunting

Scroll through the videos, photos and articles below to find out more about lions.

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